Squirrels!

[MikeF]

I've often nearly hit a squirrel that has darted out in front of me often just inches away, but yesterday one darted out from the offside of the lane and went under my bike just behind my front wheel ie under the BB. I don't know if the squirrel was surprised, but I certainly was. Has anyone hit one?

[gaz]

I've had one hit me, fell out of the tree on to my back as I was riding past. Scurried off unharmed, as did the squirrel .

[mercalia]

I've had one hit me, fell out of the tree on to my back as I was riding past. Scurried off unharmed, as did the squirrel .

probably just trying to hitch a lift to the next tree

[al_yrpal]

Yes, hit two yesterday. They are kamikasi at the moment rushing across the roads.

Al

[Ruadh495]

Yes, I've had one try to go between the wheels and end up under the rear. At least the tyre hit it in the head, so it was killed instantly.

I think they do it on purpose, trying to get behind the "predator", since most quadrupeds have difficulty reversing direction at speed. The instinct plays them false with vehicles though, they duck behind the front wheel and the back one gets them. Lots of them dead on the road at the moment, must be the season for them.

You can eat them, I believe. Probably should have tried when I had one I knew was fresh, but I can also use them for dissections at work so that's where it went.

[MikeF]

I've had one hit me, fell out of the tree on to my back as I was riding past. Scurried off unharmed, as did the squirrel .

Hope you were wearing a helmet.

[kwackers]

Every year, at least one. Running over their tails seems to be a thing especially on an evening.
Also rabbits.

[barrym]

.
Also rabbits.

Or lunch as I like to call it[emoji39]

[kwackers]

.
Also rabbits.

Or lunch as I like to call it

Last one ran into the bushes as I approached, then just as I'm going past decided it preferred the bushes on the other side.
Not really sure what happened but somehow I seemed to pick it up with my feet and flip it through the frame.
I stopped and it was sat on the path looking fairly surprised then it shot off. I felt quite sorry for it, for it was a scraggy creature.

I think about it from time to time, mostly though for the mystery of how I managed to pick it up with my foot...

[Username]

Yes, I've had one try to go between the wheels and end up under the rear. At least the tyre hit it in the head, so it was killed instantly.

I think they do it on purpose, trying to get behind the "predator", since most quadrupeds have difficulty reversing direction at speed. The instinct plays them false with vehicles though, they duck behind the front wheel and the back one gets them. Lots of them dead on the road at the moment, must be the season for them.

You can eat them, I believe. Probably should have tried when I had one I knew was fresh, but I can also use them for dissections at work so that's where it went.

How d'you know so much about dead squirrels?

[mjr]

I've had one hit me, fell out of the tree on to my back as I was riding past. Scurried off unharmed, as did the squirrel .

Hope you were wearing a helmet.

More importantly, given the fall: was the squirrel?

A while ago, the path of a herd of deer crossed the middle of our group of riders. Somehow everything avoided everyone and vice-versa. That could easily have ended very badly.

[eileithyia]

Same Squirrel twice, ran across the road, bounced off my front wheel then rebounded off the back one... and survived to tell the tale....

[rjb]

Grey squirrels were classed as vermin. There was a scheme to pay anyone who presented a Squirrel tail to the appropriate authority. It was abandoned in 1958 when it became clear that numbers couldn't be controlled by culling.

[Cunobelin]

Some squirrels have road sense.....

[Middle of the road]

Mrs M-O-T-R was almost hit by a Muntjac deer a few years ago whilst we were cycling through the Sandringham estate in Norfolk at New Year and we had a close encounter with a Roe Deer biking through Brittany last month