Yesterday, during my morning commute I almost hit a squirrel on Damen when it darted out from under a car and stopped right before my tire. On my evening commute, the same happened on Clark, but with a pigeon.

 

My question is - what do you do if an animal is heading straight towards your wheel and you have no time to react? Those are busy streets and I'd like to avoid falling and, if possible, not kill the wildlife.

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That sounds like a good recipe for squirrel. The one thing it doesn't say is how to clean the squirrel. The Joy of Cooking in the sixties had instructions (don't think they still do) on how to clean squirrels. This is what it looked like:



Chris C said:

Squirrel Jambalaya

 

1 Squirrel, medium
Salt and red pepper
3 tb Oil
2 Onions, large, chopped
3 Celery stalks, chopped
1 Garlic clove, chopped
1/4 Bell pepper, chopped
4 tb Parsley, chopped
2 c Uncooked rice, washed
1 1/2 c Water
2 tb Salt

Cut squirrel into serving pieces and season well. Sauté in oil until brown; remove from skillet. Sauté onions, celery, garlic, bell pepper and parsley in oil until wilted. Replace squirrel in skillet; cover and cook slowly about 20 minutes or until squirrel is tender. Add rice and water. Stir thoroughly. Add salt. Cook slowly about 30 minutes or until rice is cooked. From www.wildliferecipes.net.

The heuristic from motorcycling is "Never attempt to dodge an animal you could eat in one sitting".  In addition to complicating the animal's decision of where to go, you are far more likely to go down if you do hit it while you are braking or turning .  If already using some of your available friction (turning / accelerating / braking), attempt to reduce this if youre able to safely.

Apparently forks and squirrels don't mix too well.  The rider got medievaced with a broken thoracic vertebrae .  No spinal cord damage though.  

 

I love prowling the alleys dumpster-diving for bike parts and other good stuff!

 

As for critters, sooner or later they get under the tires.  Over-reacting is much worse as they can cuase someone to crash or get hit by a car.  Riding over them is usually nothing more than a small bump.  Don't cry -nature will make more.  And tree rats aren't any different than the ground rats IMHO.  Simple vermin -Good riddance.  

 


S.Presley said:

ICKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Duppie said:

That sounds like a good recipe for squirrel. The one thing it doesn't say is how to clean the squirrel. The Joy of Cooking in the sixties had instructions (don't think they still do) on how to clean squirrels. This is what it looked like:



Chris C said:

Squirrel Jambalaya

 

1 Squirrel, medium
Salt and red pepper
3 tb Oil
2 Onions, large, chopped
3 Celery stalks, chopped
1 Garlic clove, chopped
1/4 Bell pepper, chopped
4 tb Parsley, chopped
2 c Uncooked rice, washed
1 1/2 c Water
2 tb Salt

Cut squirrel into serving pieces and season well. Sauté in oil until brown; remove from skillet. Sauté onions, celery, garlic, bell pepper and parsley in oil until wilted. Replace squirrel in skillet; cover and cook slowly about 20 minutes or until squirrel is tender. Add rice and water. Stir thoroughly. Add salt. Cook slowly about 30 minutes or until rice is cooked. From www.wildliferecipes.net.

Being chased by several dogs, I realize that it's mostly a game...i.e they're bluffing and probably know they couldn't take a person down and defeat them.  However, if one was to attack me, I'd be ready to kick the living s*** outta of them...fight or flight, basically, where flight, even though my favorite choice, is not always an option.  Hopefully, it's not a coordinated attack..then things would get complicated. Dogs are domesticated wolves, and some have the instinct of ganging up on their prey. Seldom does that occur in the States , in Mexico, different story. I'd carry some sort stick or other weapon to deter them.
Riding a nature trail in Oak Lawn last week and the rider in front of me ran over a sunbathing snake. Looked just like a stick until it crookedly slithered away. At least you can see a squirrel!


Ken Gray said:
Riding a nature trail in Oak Lawn last week and the rider in front of me ran over a sunbathing snake. Looked just like a stick until it crookedly slithered away. At least you can see a squirrel!
Bunny Hop it??!
Squirrels will run away from a loud hissing sound (like that of a cat). Use that the next time a furry friend wants to say hello.. you'll both be safer.

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