Close encounters with wildlife (or just stepping on things) :-(

I ran over a cat today.😢
I didn't hit it dead-on, though; I think I saw out of the corner of my eye that it managed to scramble off the road toward a yard just in time.
It was sitting right by the shoulder with its back to me while I was approaching at maybe 20 mph. I tried to give it some space, but it suddenly spun around and bolted right under my front tire. I went straight over its back, then the rear tire caught its tail. My cheap suspension actually did its job and softened the impact, so the bike wobbled a bit, but I straightened up and kept riding. No damage to me or the bike, I guess.

About six or seven years ago, I had something similar happen with a dog, but it ended much worse.
I was heading down a slight incline when this little dog flew out of a driveway, barking furiously at me and my bike.
I lifted my feet to keep from getting bitten while I was coasting, but I think it caught my rear tire. The wheel went right over its head, and I could hear it whimpering.😢

Anyway, feel free to share your own stories about close calls with animals while riding on roads, trails, or out in nature.

my experience

I guess you just have to accept that animals are unpredictable or even mindless. Maybe just slow down a bit if you happen to spot one. 🙂

Don't sweat the cat; they've got nine lives. 🤔 Fine, this one's down to eight. 😬
I watched a guy on a Harley run right over a stray, and the thing didn't even flinch.

So far, I’ve only run into a snake once (I think it made it past 😁) and I’m praying that’s the extent of it.
Honestly, I can only imagine what it would be like to stumble upon a cat, a dog, or God forbid, something much "bigger." 🙂

I wouldn't say I've been blessed with perfect luck,
1. So, one time I’m riding along this gravel path through some thick woods outside of Columbus, just cruising along on the dirt road. I spot this woman standing in her yard, maybe 30 or 40 yards to my left, so I just keep heading down the trail... then suddenly, out of nowhere, I hear this lady screaming her head off behind me. I look back and—holy crap—this massive sheepdog is charging straight out of her yard right at my back. Honestly, I didn't even care about the gravel or how wiped out I was from the ride... I was pushing 40, too, so I just kept going, and after maybe a hundred yards or so, the dog finally gave up the chase.
2. Then there was this other time, just staring into the dense trees in some rural part of Ohio, totally empty everywhere. I glance down at my speedometer, look back up, and—boom—there’s a deer standing dead center in the road, maybe 30 feet ahead of me. I slammed on the brakes just in time, and the thing bolted into the brush.

I haven’t run over or even laid a finger on an animal, 🙂

Every now and then I’ll spot a snake crossing the road, but I usually catch them in time... so I just tap the brakes and wait for them to clear the path...

As for dead animals, I’ve seen hundreds of them just lying there on the asphalt... you always see a high number out near the suburbs of Chicago... people tend to speed through those stretches, and since there’s a massive public park right nearby, it really shouldn't come as any surprise how many end up caught under tires...

I almost ran over a cat tonight.

I was cruising down this dimly lit street around 11 PM, doing about 19 miles mph. Not even a second before, I realize there’s a cat just sprawled out right in the middle of the road, not moving an inch. Honestly, I have no idea how I managed to miss it. Then I look over and see the thing just casually getting up—looking totally unbothered, like it couldn't care less—and walking off.

I've had way too many run-ins with these stubborn cats lately..

I had a close call with a stray dog the other night. The rain had just let up, and since it was dark, I was pushing it a little too fast. I took a sharp turn into my driveway, only to find a white dog standing right there in the exit path. He was terrified, I was terrified, and he bolted into the darkness before I could even process what happened. Honestly, my first thought was that I was going straight through the windshield; I was speeding, the pavement was slick, my tires are pretty worn out, and I’d have had to slam on the brakes hard... it would've been a disaster.
It was a stroke of luck that he was white. If it had been a black dog, I almost certainly would've hit him because I wouldn't have seen him until I started braking, and since my driveway gate is only about five feet wide, there wouldn't have been any room for him to dodge... he was right in the middle of the opening.

I saw a rat crushed on a bike path earlier... Still can't wrap my head around it.

I’ve never gone over an animal, but that just makes me a product of 🙄 🤔 It’s happened more than once 🙄 But it wasn't quite the same 😳

Didn't crush anything with my bike or whatever, but I hit a wild hog with two piglets right in the ditch down by the outskirts of Austin. Luckily I spotted them about 50 yards out and slammed on the brakes, so she just bolted up the hill when she heard the screeching.

Patrick King7 said:I’ve never actually run over an animal myself, but that’s probably because I grew up in 🙄 🤔. It’s happened more than once 🙄. Though, it wasn't quite the same thing 😳.

It’s a shame... you would have walked away with a much higher score if you had used a combo. 😢

Dennis White2 said:So, here’s my take on how things went! Honestly? It was quite the ride. You know how it is when you go into something expecting one thing, but then life just throws a curveball at you? That was basically my whole experience. Just a whirlwind! Was it perfect? Well, let me think... maybe not perfectly polished, but definitely memorable! I kept thinking, "Wait, is this actually happening right now?" and honestly, I loved every second of the chaos. It’s funny how things turn out, isn't it? Just one thing after another! Anyway, that's my two cents! I can't believe we're still talking about this! Seriously, how many times do we have to go over the same ground before it sticks? It feels like we’re just spinning our wheels here, doesn't it? I mean, honestly! And don't even get me started on what Dennis White2 was saying earlier. What was he even thinking? It's like some people just love to stir the pot for no reason at all. Is it a hobby now? A full-time job? Who knows! Anyway, back to the point—which, let's be real, keeps shifting like sand. Does anyone actually think this plan is going to work? Not me! Not even a little bit! We need to stop chasing these wild ideas and actually look at the facts for once. Just once! Wouldn't that be something? It’s all just noise, isn't it? Total noise! But hey, stay positive, right? We'll figure it out eventually... maybe! Haha!

Ugh, seriously? Just go ahead and convince yourself that animals can actually think for themselves! Seriously, just tell yourself that! Just total nonsense! Or maybe just... unprofessional? Honestly, I can't even tell anymore. It's all so silly! Does anyone else feel like we're just spinning our wheels here? It’s honestly kind of ridiculous, isn't it? Just complete nonsense! And you absolutely have to slow down just a little bit... I mean, obviously, if you spot an animal crossing the road! You can't just barrel through, right? Safety first! 🙂

So, I’m out for a stroll this morning, just cruising along the sidewalk at a casual 10 miles per hour, right? And there’s this cat—this little feline shadow—just sitting by my car, staring me down. It was watching me, waiting for me to get closer... and honestly, I thought she was just timing her exit! You know, like, calculating the exact millisecond to bolt so she could make a clean getaway? But nope! She just sat there, waiting for the perfect moment to dart right under my feet! Can you believe that? Just straight under my tires! Pure chaos!

Cats! Seriously, can we just talk about cats for a second? I mean, honestly, where would we even be without them? They’re just... little chaos agents in tiny fur coats, right? One minute they're purring like a little motorboat on your lap, and the next? BAM! They're sprinting across the living room at 3 AM like they've seen a ghost or something! It's wild! Do you ever just stare at them while they're sleeping and wonder what's going on in that tiny brain? Probably nothing. Just vibes and dreams of chasing laser pointers, probably! But man, there's just something about that little attitude they have. You think you own the house? Nope. They own the house. We're just the roommates who pay the mortgage and open the cans of Fancy Feast. Isn't that hilarious? Truly! They’re constantly getting run over on the road—it happens all the time! And this time? They almost got taken out by a cyclist, too. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they're stupid, or reckless, or just plain careless. It's not even that! It’s more like... honestly, it feels like their only real instinct is to just... They just bolt straight for home! Seriously, they’ll head toward any shelter they can find—even if it means darting right across a busy four-lane highway—the second they feel even a little bit threatened. It's wild, isn't it? Just pure instinct!It’s like cats just don't get it! Honestly, all animals are kind of clueless about physics, right? They don't realize that when a car comes barreling toward them, it isn't just some slow-moving thing traveling in a perfectly straight line at one constant speed. To a cat, a speeding vehicle looks like this massive, terrifying predator charging straight for them, but they act like they can just pull a quick little maneuver to dodge it or that the car will somehow just glide right past! It makes no sense! And get this—they don't even react differently if you're standing thirty yards away versus when you're practically on top of them! Like, hello? Can we please work on the situational awareness here?! 19 milesSo, you gotta get like, six feet away first, right? You can't just bolt! You have to hit that two-meter mark before you can actually start sprinting—just like me!
Look, I’ve gotta say it—when it comes to pets, especially cats, sometimes you just gotta give 'em a little shout! You know? Just a quick, loud "Hey!" to startle them into motion. It sounds harsh, I know, I know! But honestly, isn't it better to scare them into picking a route and bolting right now? Why waste time hovering or slowing down when they could just zoom away? Better to get that momentum going early, right?! 😉

Where are all those silly dog owners hiding? You know the ones! They’re out for a stroll, leash in hand—if they even bother with one—just staring up at the clouds or getting totally distracted by some neighbor across the street. And then, suddenly, the dog decides it's time to bolt the other way! Boom! The leash snaps taut, and before you know it, you’ve practically picked up both the pup and the owner in one go. Talk about a two-for-one special, right?! Haha!🙄
Do you think they react to a doorbell or someone just shouting their name with that same kind of raw instinct? I mean, owners, right? It’s like... boom! They're already halfway to the door before you even finish pressing the button! Is it just pure reflex? Or maybe they've just got us totally trained? Who knows! But man, it's wild to watch! 😁So, like, it turns out stress can totally get to you—and I mean really get under your skin—and it’s not always just about your own dog causing a meltdown, you know? It can be anyone!

So, I was just out mowing the lawn recently and accidentally ran over a few slugs hiding in the grass...

But on a more serious note—about a year ago, while I was riding my bike pretty fast with a buddy, a wasp suddenly flew right out from a driveway. I totally panicked and slammed on my brakes, which luckily happened just in time... but I didn't manage to yell a warning to my friend who was riding right on my tail. He ended up wiping out and hitting the pavement like a pancake. Thankfully... he was totally fine, everything turned out okay given how bad it could have been. Still, even now, I kind of feel guilty about how poorly I reacted in the moment 😢

northerncyclist2 said:I was just out biking through some tall grass the other day and accidentally rolled right over a bunch of slugs...

earthworms, right? And apparently, the invertebrate category doesn't even count for points! Only mammals and primates get credit. Can you believe that? 😁

Had a near miss with a snake again today! 🙂 I was driving through rural Kansas when, out of nowhere, I spotted a snake slithering right across the road... caught it at the very last second since I was making good time. It looked like some kind of black snake with white spots or stripes, maybe twenty centimeters long... what really caught me off guard was how fast it was moving. I had no idea snakes could move that quickly...

The thought for starting a thread like this recently crossed my mind, mostly because I can't stop thinking about those mangled, pathetic little carcasses scattered along the road.

There was this one time I was rushing through Queens (New York City), and this medium-sized dog suddenly darted out from a side street right into my path. I clipped him with my wheel, and the poor thing bolted off with a yelp. I really hope I didn't break anything, and I'm praying he isn't just some stray—he had a collar on, though he looked like a purebred street urchin at best.
That experience taught me a lesson: no matter how much of a hurry I'm in, I always need to leave myself enough room to brake when faced with these kinds of surprises.

And yeah; there was another instance, during some pretty gusty weather, where a flock of sparrows flew right in front of me. The wind caught one and sent it straight into my spokes, causing it to bounce off. I turned around to see if it was okay, but it had already fluttered off into some bushes somewhere.
I hope it recovered.

Now, I try my best to avoid slugs, which seem to be everywhere on the asphalt after it rains... and even if I spot a line of ants, I'll actually stop and lift my bike over them...

I watch out too. Sometimes I’ll even pull over just to clear snails off the road because people are driving like maniacs and crushing them under their tires.🙄 And it isn't just snails; I've cleared turtles off the pavement before too.

Man, about 15 years ago, I was out riding my granddad's old Rog touring bike—you know, the kind with zero gears, a coaster brake, and a front lever that basically just smashed a pad directly onto the top of the tire. Anyway, I ended up running over a chicken. Totally fatal. Honestly, I probably would've missed it if I hadn't slammed on the brakes and swerved to avoid her, which just meant my back wheel cut off her path straight to the safety of the yard. Ever since then, whenever I see poultry, livestock, dogs, or even kids near the road, I'm immediately braking down to a walking pace.

Brandon Gomez2 said:About 15 years ago, I was out riding my grandfather's old Rog touring bike—you know, the kind with no gears, a coaster brake, and a front lever that just pressed some makeshift pad against the tire from above. Anyway, I ran over a chicken. It was fatal. Honestly, I probably would have missed her if I hadn't slammed on the brakes to avoid her; instead, my rear tire basically cut off her one path back to the safety of the coop. Ever since then, whenever I see poultry, livestock, dogs, or kids near the road, I immediately slow down to a walking pace.

The safest tactic 🙂