indyfabz

Definitely. Three years ago I was about to leave camp during a tour when a huge black bear walked out from between the two dumpsters he had raided earlier. We were about 25’ apart. Not the way you want to start your morning. This, taken last year, was a safe distance, although it was closer than the camera makes it seem.

Ubie

Be thankful it wasn't a Vampire Squirrel

https://www.newsweek.com/first-video...evealed-370530

adalah

very nice

Random11

I've run over three squirrels in the past few years. Thump-thump. I've felt bad about it, but I have to think the squirrels felt worse.

Korina

The advantage of riding at a #partypace is that I've never run over anything. Well, there was that odd morning, before sunrise, when I encountered dozens of baby banana slugs crossing the trail; I may have inadvertently squashed a few.

Korina

I dunno, that lizard looks pretty stable; it don't get more stable than dead.

Gresp15C

I once ran over a small armadillo in Texas. It was completely un-fazed, and skittered off. Myself, it took me a while to get my composure back.

yashinon

I have had geese fly into my handlebars.

Danhedonia

Couldn't imagine harming an animal - I've risked wipeouts to avoid lizards and am happy with that equation.

However, a hummingbird once did dive-bomb my scarlet-colored helmet. WTF?

79pmooney

I got a hit from a seagull exactly at the bar/stem crossing. I don't think it was an accident. I suspect he knew he got a bullseye. I've watched seagulls enough doing things in the air that weren't remotely related to the necessities of life but were clearly just for fun.

79pmooney

The nectar from the at one big flower is enough to grow him to neighborhood bully sizer in one meal.

Danhedonia

Hummingbirds are crazy-aggressive - I live in the Rio Grande Valley (migratory path) and we see many varieties. Rufous hummingbirds make the 98th street Crips look like sissies.

supermatt9

Yikes! What was the outcome of that?

downtube42

Cruising side by side with a buddy, out the corner of my eye I see a squirrel bounding alongside the road. The squirrel calculates the angles in his little squirrel brain, and runs across just on front of me. All good, except he didn't know my buddy was there. The squirrel braked hard and made light contact, my buddy made a cute little "eek" sound, and no harm was done aside from the squirrel's heart and my buddy's ego.

It was memorable.

noimagination

I bark at them. To me, they seem to pay more attention to barking than yelling words. That still doesn't prevent the occasional squirrel from darting out and me hitting it before I can react. I don't remember how many I've hit - probably around 10 or so over the past 25 years.

I've had a squirrel jump on me, but that was at summer camp and the squirrel was semi-tame. It would jump down from a branch onto campers' heads or arms (usually with encouragement from the camper) to get treats.

I had one squirrel fall down onto the pavement next to me while I was on a ride, from a tree or power line. It didn't move, so I assume it had just suffered a little squirrel coronary or something and was dead when it hit.

leob1

I ran over a squirrel, and a snake(same one twice), and a drone.

bikecrate

I've had many encounters with the S.S.S. (Suicide Squirrel Squad). Mostly they have run into the front tire making a thumping sound. One time I had one get caught in the front wheel. It was flung up towards my head. I could feel its fur on my cheek and its little claws trying to grab on. Fortunately, it flew harmlessly over my shoulder.

Korina

I was walking under a power pole once and got nailed on the shoulder from the crow at the top. It knew exactly what it was doing; I always said, crows have a frat boy sense of humor. (Freaking obnoxious dinosaurs.)

thenetters21

For some reason birds fly through an overhang on the side of our house...never was hit by them...this year...they've flown into me twice. I'm sure it's COVID related.

gringomojado

deer

Slasharoo

I like riding west in the morning and watching the shadows of the redwing blackbirds dive bombing me as I pass their nests.

thenetters21

Shouldn't have read this post...just watched a deer run through our yard in the rain, then get near street where my wife and I commented it was going to scare the crap out of the two bikers. Well, the two bikers turned out to be our kids riding home. But, of course, no bike/deer collision, and made for some smiles when they rode up the driveway

rydabent

Sometime you feel like a nut, and the squirrel thot so too!!!!

ecovelo

I've never hit anything wild - however when I was 14, I encountered a rattlesnake in the middle of a partially paved bike trail along the river. I was riding a bike that was too big for me (all bikes back then were too big for me!) and I accidentally hit the front brake before I could reach the back - and flew over the front handlebars and landed on the other side of the snake. I don't know who was more scared. The snake had been crossing the path - but coiled up so quickly and his head snapped to where he was looking right at me. I froze on the ground, looking at him.... he rattled then froze... and for what seemed like minutes later... he slowly uncoiled and slithered away. (all those years of playing "freeze tag" paid off! ). I will never forget that experience - it was actually quite profound. And I took corners a little slower for a time after.

On a more tragic note - a family friend was killed cycling when he hit a deer. A longtime cyclist, he was newly retired and on a ride with his wife (an ER nurse). The deer came out of nowhere and hit him... and from what I understand, he fell backwards and hit his helmeted head in the one small spot that can instantly kill you if you hit it just right - and it did. He was doing something he loved with the person he loved and he went quickly - but obviously very tough for the family and friends he left behind.

spookygeek

I'd much rather have a furry rodent encounter than a copperhead. I've almost hit birds a few times on the road bike, but thats it so far.