Wild Chicago (encounters with the wild side of life)

In the past few weeks I have been rolling south to Wolf Lake via the LFT and Burnham Greenway for a quarter century quickie and have had repeated encounters with deer along Eggers Woods and the William Powers Conservation Area (Wolf Lake.)  Yesterday afternoon found me racing a buck for a hundred yards or so until a jogger coming from the opposite direction caused the deer to abruptly cut and dash into the brush.  The jogger was nonplussed.  

Last week, I was racing along admiring THREE deer traipsing in Eggers Woods when suddenly a rabbit emerges onto the path.  Before I could even touch my brakes, the startled bunny goes airborne, hurling pass me like a furry missile at chest level and missing me by about a foot.  Defensively, I excitedly shouted "Shit!" in utter surprise and amazement and then started laughing.

Also a week ago, on a midnight ride along the length of the LFT and owning the path (encountering two other cyclists the entire 36 mile roundtrip), I came onto a racoon who was very casually sauntering across the path adjacent to the Sledding Hill at Soldier Field.  "Just out for a stroll, gov'nor."  Numerous bunnies were also spotted in this vicinity, natch.  Didn't see any coyotes, but I know they're out there.  

The only occasion so far in which I have across a coyote face to face while biking was a few Octobers ago in some open/vacant "urban prairie" down around 99th Street (behind the 103rd Steet CTA garage terminal) between Stony Island and a railroad corridor -- a likely place indeed.  I did see one while driving by at 116th and Torrence some years ago.

Now you share.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on November 4, 2014 at 6:50am
I saw a coyote moseying around York Road and the Prairie Path in Elmhurst on Sunday morning at 9 am last weekend. The deer are also really thick in the woods around the Salt Creek trail right now, particularly near dusk. I'm also occasionally startled by one at the intersection of the Prairie Path and Addison Creek in Bellwood.

However, I was quite surprised to see wild turkeys on the path in the Chicago Portage park near 47th and Harlem, a few weeks ago.
Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on November 4, 2014 at 6:57am

Wild turkey!  Now we're talkin' wild life.  I remember being delighted in seeing wild pheasant south of Roosevelt / Dearborn Park back in the mid-90s. 

Permalink Reply by S on November 4, 2014 at 7:20am

I've encountered coyotes, possums, raccoons, and bunnies on the LFP.  I'd watch out for deer if you run across them, they may shift directions suddenly and in a collision between a deer and you, you'd probably come off worse for wear.  I had a friend that broke a collarbone when a deer running alongside him decided to run across the path on the NBT. 

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on November 4, 2014 at 7:27am

I've seen possums in the 'hood but not on the trail.  As for deer and sudden shifts in direction, that's understood.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on November 4, 2014 at 7:40am

Saw a wild turkey wandering the streets of St. Louis last weekend! Was in the Skinker/DeBalivier area.
 
curt(is) locke said:

Wild turkey!  Now we're talkin' wild life.  I remember being delighted in seeing wild pheasant south of Roosevelt / Dearborn Park back in the mid-90s. 

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on November 4, 2014 at 7:47am

Will Detroit now please represent?

Alex Z said:

Saw a wild turkey wandering the streets of St. Louis last weekend! Was in the Skinker/DeBalivier area.
 
curt(is) locke said:

Wild turkey!  Now we're talkin' wild life.  I remember being delighted in seeing wild pheasant south of Roosevelt / Dearborn Park back in the mid-90s. 

Permalink Reply by Blatherskate on November 4, 2014 at 7:48am
I saw a deer in a Logan Square garden lot (East side of Sacramento, between Milwaukee and Logan) in the summer of 2008.

It just so happened to be a couple weeks after the Roscoe Village couger fiasco.
Left me wondering where the hell I was...
Permalink Reply by JeffB on November 4, 2014 at 8:03am

I've had frequent run-ins with deer along the North Branch Trail, a near collision once. I also saw a buck lying down midday about 20-30 feet off the trail. I often see deer on the street on Lansing Ave just north of Forest Glen Ave on my way to the NBT, usually early morning or at dusk.

Permalink Reply by grayn8 on November 4, 2014 at 8:53am
Scared out of my wits seeing a skunk pre-sunrise near 26th and Halsted. And as for the rats, they seem to have no fear. Especially near Douglas Park.
Permalink Reply by S on November 4, 2014 at 11:07am

Oh, I've also seen snowy owls on the lakefront and a pair of deer last fall I think on the path by North ave.  The possums were at the point so they may have wandered over from jackson park or just live there. 

Permalink Reply by T.K. 3.5 mi on November 4, 2014 at 11:15am

I ran over a rat on sacramento near armitage not too long ago. Squeek! Squeek! It was definitely the rat's fault.

There is at least one great blue heron that lives in Humboldt Park near the bridge to the northwest of the formal garden. Ive seen it wading silently at night . (sleeping maybe) Always very cool, and I will often go out of my way to look for it.

We saw a coyote during the middle of the day behind Calumet Fisheries during the perimeter ride. It looked very well fed...

Feral kitties, everywhere. 

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on November 4, 2014 at 12:03pm

I ride part of the NBT after dusk (and after it closes, but it is legal according to the CCFP) and deal with some HUUUGGEEE raccoons and such.

Almost got sprayed last week by a baby skunk.

Had a scare from a coyote that jumped out of a bush last Thursday in the woods just out of my lights reach.  I think I had a new max VO2 (or whatever that fancy pro lingo thingy is).

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