@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite A1: HIIII

just the usual place, north of Seattle, in Cascadia

I can't think of any interesting animal encounters, really. I mean, I've seen plenty of animals, particularly the beavers in Bothell and the quails in Kenmore, but nothing I'd call a real _encounter_.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite

In 2000s I befriended a cat who would wander around a former highway now restricted for most traffic but encouraged for cyclists. She was usually in a garden but would always greet me, and I'd stop and dismount from my bike to spend time with her.

One afternoon I was speaking to my (human) friend Julia on a mobile phone with a hands free kit (with the phone in the pocket of my cycling jacket) and spending time with the cat.

A middle aged woman passing by saw this - it looked like I was having a full scale human conversation with the cat - the woman looked genuinely shocked and walked away *very* quickly 😺

@ascentale @bikenite A1. I’m yet again in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where rainy weather has continued over the last week. And I’ll answer my own question:

I’ve had a lot of interesting animal encounters while cycling over the years. Foxes, ospreys, various farm animals, squirrels running across my path…

But here’s one from a couple of years ago. This doe and her fawn were initially on the MUP in front of me, but had gotten away from it when I had approached. I got this photo.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @bikenite

Writing from snowy Denver, Colorado US today.

Just last weekend I rode past this little group of mule deer grazing on a hill side next to my bike path.

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite

A1) posting from Scottsdale, AZ. While this is a good place for biking, I am very ready to move on. Just a few more weeks...

Most memorable encounter was while mountain biking near Whitehorse, Yukon, which has some excellent mountain biking trails. I came around a curve and saw two bear cubs playing near the trail. First thought was "how cute!", followed milliseconds later by "oh shit, where's mom?" Mama bear and another half grown bear reared up from behind some bushes, and I backed slowly and carefully away until I was out of sight. Then I found another way back to town, which unfortunately included a trail (marked on the map as "Mad to the Max") which was well beyond my abilities. I made it down that trail, but very slowly.

#Bikenite

A1. From Skipton, Yorkshire, where I've helped @LollaMac get set up for a trade show

I had the privilege of following an owl along a tunnel-like pathway on my commute home earlier this week, that felt pretty special.

#BikeNite #BikeTooter

@ascentale
@uxmark @bikenite

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite
A1.

Snapping turtles!
#BikeTooter

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite A1: Sydney, Australia.

The most dramatic was a small kangaroo than bounced along next to me the swerved behind me, clipping the rear pannier. Neither of us was hurt but both surprised.

I used to see quite a lot of wildlife commuting through parks early in the morning, but my current ride is much used by dog walkers and that scares most things. So mostly just sulfur crested bastard birds and the occasional brush turkey.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @[email protected] @bikenite #BikeNite

A1. Posting from Alameda, California.

Usual encounters are a couple of turkeys (regularly).

Rarely in the spring, in the dark morning, it's a skunk. Those are funny to watch run, but you have to stop because they run directly away instead of sideways. Then they turn around and threaten with their tail. If you give them enough time, they decide to dash off the path.

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite

A1. Albany, New York, once again!

I accidentally ran over an opossum in the middle of the night in Nebraska once (not sure how it fared). Countless dog chase situations, mostly in Arizona and Texas. Random peacock encounters are the strangest! (once in Texas, once along the Empire State Trail in NY). I'm always too surprised to get a photo.

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite posting from Canberra, Australia.

Animal encounters: yesterday a wallaby wisely decided to go back into the bush instead of jumping in front of me as kangaroos are wont to do, so that was positive.

For a couple of months - Sep-Oct - it's magpie swooping season here in Australia. They do it all up the east coast but Canberra is especially prone because it's the Bush Capital which means there's a lot of territory where magpies feel that they should be the dominant species. It is a very scary experience, especially at speed. I understand that the magpie will not carry me off but the screeching, slapping of wings, snapping of beaks and occasional contact is very unnerving.

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite
#BikeNite A1:
I'm posting from home in Rochester Minnesota while watching the Minnesota Boys High School Hockey semifinals.

Most of my animal encounters while riding are pet dogs, and I've been bitten several times (once badly) and knocked off my bike once with couple more near misses.

I also deal with the resident (not migratory) Canada Geese on the city trails. Some get aggressive and hiss at me, but the worst is the copious goose poop on the trails.

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite

#BikeNite A1. Ventura County, California. Not a whole lot of non-human animal encounters while on bicycle!

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite

A1. Hello from Somerville, Massachusetts!

I haven't had any mounted encounters with turkeys, coyotes, etc, but I do often see rats and buns and birds crossing my path! I'll call them by name, but they never seem to notice me.

Geese, though... I avoid geese.

#BiteNite

@ascentale
I'm posting from Chicago.

One evening I was heading to Hyde Park (South Side) from the Loop on the lakefront bike trail. Right around the Field Museum I spotted a dog off leash. Only it wasn't a dog; it was a coyote. As I approached it sat down by the side of the trail and crossed its forepaws daintily to the show that it wanted me to pass.

I used to come hope later at night by the same route. Just a little south of where I met the coyote @uxmark @bikenite

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite

Oakland, CA, USA

A1:

I've hit a deer twice while commuting home in the dark, on my bike. First time, on a very rough country road, descending, I had taken the lane to prevent cars trying to overtake me and put me in a dangerous situation. Nearing a crossroads, deep in the woods, there was a deer in the air to my left, leaping over my handlebar mounted light. (Canyon @ Pinehurst) I assumed it jumped high enough to clear my handlebar light, because it was not high enough to clear me. I had time to put my shoulder down and lean left, and we impacted. I stayed upright! The deer tumbled. I stopped and it ran off. My heart was pounding. I was also deep in a canyon, with no cell. I had hoof prints on my arm and helmet.

Second time, somewhat similar scenario, the deer was on the road, on a descent. It went right, I leaned left. It went left, I leaned right, then we impacted. We both went down.

Many more...

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

@ascentale @uxmark @bikenite A1. Toots from Atlanta like usual. I mostly just run across squirrels and chipmunks with suicide/homicide agendas. In our old neighborhood there was a day of squirrels making a beeline for my wheel...

#BikeNite