Ran over a squirrel this morning

[Jeff N.]

I ran over one just a few days ago. Killed him. He made a little squeak and that was it. He just ran right in front of me. Couldn't be avoided.

[Gwerziou]

To add a little more levity -
This past summer I was commuting home in Seattle, WA on a hot sunny afternoon. A bus pulled up next to me in the dedicated lane to my right. The driver's window was open and we nodded to each other, which was nice. A pedestrian crossed just as the light was changing to green for us, deeply immersed in his cell phone - both the bus and I started and then stopped in confusion. Then, a bit more than halfway across, he changed his mind and without looking up started back the way he came. I started to go, but then, he changed his mind AGAIN and tottered back across the street, never once looking up. "He's like a squirrel!" the bus driver yelled to me in amusement/disgust.

[dgauthier]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

squirrels and chipmunks are making an absolute mess of my front lawn and back yard. (...)

Please pardon the thread drift:

I don't know about chipmunks, but I fixed a problem with squirrels digging up my flower beds and spreading wood chips and dirt all over my hardscape.

Y'know what repels squirrels? Coffee grounds! It doesn't hurt them, but they hate the smell. Just sprinkle the morning's grounds where they're making a mess, and they stop immediately. The smell must linger (humans can't smell it), because after a couple of weeks you can stop, and the squirrels continue to avoid the area for a few months.

[Baron Blubba]

It's amazing how soft the impact is as you roll over them, isn't it? I always expected a heart-rending, nausea inducing, crunch, but it was more like a gentle squishbump.

I respect animals to the point of not eating them, not even fish, not even shrimp. But the mass convocations of drunken squirrels that endanger my nigh every descent on Skyline Drive has ignited flames of scorching anti-squirrel animosity within my bosom. So 10 points to the OP.

[bikinchris]

I was teaching my bike class at an elementary school and I was able to ride my bike to a nearby place for lunch. As I was riding back, I was cruising along a set of hedges and a squirrel jumped out of the hedge and I have no earthly idea how I didn't run over the furry rat.
The funny part was as he jumped out, he saw me and started to backpedal like a cartoon character scratching the pavement for all he had trying to turn around in mid stride. He made the loudest scritch-scratching noises as I reached for the brakes so as not to get blood on my bike. He had passed in front of my front wheel by less than an inch and turned around and passed between my wheels and under my bottom bracket on his way back into the hedge.

[reuben]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

squirrels and chipmunks are making an absolute mess of my front lawn and back yard.

I support population control.

I used to have groundhogs and beavers at a previous house. Count yourself lucky.

There's nothing quite like walking out the door and seeing a tree felled by a beaver that's broken the fence that kept the deer out.

[thwart]

I miss Mr. Squirrel.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by Turkle

When I used to ride on the Henry Hudson in NYC, there were always these big fat raccoons that somehow always seemed to waddle right into my path on fast descents. I never hit one but there were a few close calls for sure.

Squirrels, you can generally run right over (seen it once or twice on rides), but I think you'd have a really big problem if you hit a raccoon on a descent.

I've hit coons twice. Went over the bars both times. First time just got a huge bruise from navel to kidney from landing on my side. Second time got a concussion and a broken collarbone.

[smontanaro]

So the OP doesn't feel too bad, I will relate my one squirrel v bike story. I was commuting home from my job at GE R&D in Niskayuna NY to my home in Scotia many years ago. A squirrel darted in front of me, got past me, then his (or her) instincts kicked in, and he decided it would be best to reverse course to fool this strange looking dog. Of course, he ran right under my tire.

I stopped and saw him flopping around on the street, probably with a broken back. I felt I had to put him out of his misery. It must have had an effect on me. I suffered no damage, nor did the bike, but I still recall it 30+ years later.

[choke]

My scariest moment on two wheels was on a motorcycle. I was doing around 40mph, leaned over in a sharp curve and a marmot decided to run out in front of me. He got halfway across the road and did the squirrel thing, reversing course. There was nothing I could do but hang on and brace for impact - somehow we didn't collide.

On the bicycle....

I was coming down a hill on a gravel road and up ahead under some trees, I saw what looked like a limb in the road. As I got closer I realized that it wasn't a limb. I'm not sure which of us was more surprised, his head was on a swivel as I went flying by. I stopped and took this picture, he was very tolerant of my presence and never rattled.

[bironi]

Originally Posted by Gwerziou

To add a little more levity -
This past summer I was commuting home in Seattle, WA on a hot sunny afternoon. A bus pulled up next to me in the dedicated lane to my right. The driver's window was open and we nodded to each other, which was nice. A pedestrian crossed just as the light was changing to green for us, deeply immersed in his cell phone - both the bus and I started and then stopped in confusion. Then, a bit more than halfway across, he changed his mind and without looking up started back the way he came. I started to go, but then, he changed his mind AGAIN and tottered back across the street, never once looking up. "He's like a squirrel!" the bus driver yelled to me in amusement/disgust.

Never have hit a squirrel, but many close calls.
With age I have more time to interact with them and encourage them to avoid harm to them or myself.
I commuted for 15 yrs in Seattle.
I like your story.

[pdmtong]

Actual picture taken by a friend. Squirrel got caught and the rider did a full forward endo. Brakes with more clearance might have helped.

[nighthawk]

Rolled over a squirrel several years ago. Bounced off my leg and ended up on the side of the road. It scampered up into a tree and gave me a dirty look, so I assumed it was ok.

Related but less ideal outcome, one time with a friend riding in front of me had a bird fly into his rear wheel. It shot rearward and struck me in the head/helmet. Felt awful for the bird. What terrible timing.

[Mr. Pink]

So, did the OP have a bad dream of a squirrel with a peg leg walking on him in bed?

[Mr. Pink]

Originally Posted by pdmtong

Actual picture taken by a friend. Squirrel got caught and the rider did a full forward endo. Brakes with more clearance might have helped.

Good Lord.