Wild animals and motorcycles

[Rocky]

There is a sidebar story on the home page about a bear that leaped upon a motorcyclist in our sister province of New Brunswick causing him to crash and nearly killing him.
I have had many close encounters with dogs, deer and two moose.
A few years ago three of us were riding across the province in a heavily forested area and I was in the middle.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a brown blur coming straight at me and I knew it was a deer. I saw it leap and I braced for the impact but it never happened. I couldn't believe that it didn't hit me!
It happened so fast there was nothing I could have done anyway.
Needless to say the incident scared the beejeebers out of me and my heart was pounding like a machine gun but I motored on.
We made a rest stop a few minutes later and the rider behind me said the deer leaped and passed behind my back missing me by inches.
I guess the stars (or something) were aligned for me that day :ya2:

 

[avion]

Very close call there Rocky, you were so lucky. I should imagine it's like a brick wall coming at you.

...

 

[The Seeker]

If I'm riding after dark, I take the largest highway to get where I'm going as opposed to the more scenic route during the day. The reason being the highways usually are wider and don't have nature encroaching as closely on the sides. That give me more room to maneuver and/or see anything coming from the sides.

I've had plenty of close calls..... and one full-sized male turkey with a direct hit to my face.

 

[CarlS]

I, too, try to stick to major highways at night. When we lived in Flagler County, if I rode and night (and I did frequently), I slowed way down and was especially vigilant. I have many close calls with deer, fox, raccoon, and hogs, but never a bear!

 

[dazco]

I try to never ride twisties or any area where deer cross the road before maybe 10AM and make sure i'm out of there before dusk. I have yet to have even a close call. Once had one cross when i ignored my rule at maybe 9AM, but it was about 100 yards or more ahead of me. Animal scare the **** out of me because like Rocky said, theres nothing you can do cuz it happens instantly. There are bears around here, but i have yet to see one in my 55 years here.

One thing this brings to mind is that for years now i have wondered about something. When i was younger it was a somewhat regular occurrence to see dogs get hit in the streets. I saw it happen a dozen times or more in my life up until maybe 20 years or so ago, then i never saw this again. Don't know if people are just getting wise or what, but i'm sure happy about that both for myself and the dogs. When i was younger i had dogs chase me numerous times on bikes. then i stopped riding for 20 years and since i've come back to it i have never even seen a loose dog running around. Laws must have really tightened up on this issue or something.

Maybe if they imposed a law that made deer do community service for crossing the road. :ya2:

 

[CarlS]

Leash laws have reduced the dog problem greatly - even in rural areas.

 

[DaveM]

The worst accident I had was when I hit a large dog. The thing was hiding behind a car and as I passed it ran out at me and under the front wheel. I did not even see it. The dog was killed outright and I landered up with a wrecked bike and a dislocated shoulder :tongue:

I have always tried as much as possible to be on teh lookout for things liek this but at times you just cannot anticipate then like with Rocky. :sad:

 

[dazco]

Leash laws....i shoulda figured.

I remember when i had my first bike at 16 a dog came after me. I had read in a magazine that if you are chased by a dog on the curb side of the bike, ride close past the next parked car and the dog because he is looking at you and barking won't see the car and bam ! It worked ! I looked back and he was just sitting there dazed. :ya2:

 

[DaveM]

I never actually gave that a thought must remember that next time. :y115:

 

[CarlS]

Good move, Dale! :y115:

 

[The Seeker]

We too have a problem with bear (and sometimes cows or bulls that escape their pastures). At least the bears are usually slow moving unlike deer that dart right in front of you. I've had to come to a complete stop to allow a bear and her cubs to cross the road before.

One day while driving my old Chevy Suburban, I came over a rise in the road to find a huge bull standing there. I stopped and he looked at me. I blew the horn at him and he began to charge at the front of my vehicle. I had to throw the Suburban into reverse and back-up as fast as I could on the roadway for about 1/4th mile before he gave up. He'd have done some major damage to my grill and radiator had he sunk those horns into the Suburban.

 

[DaveM]

Along the one road I sometimes travel the road is often blocked by baboons. No way do they move out of the way and the one time I had to manoeuvre between them to get past. These guys are huge and while sitting they will be tall enough to look you in the face as you drive past them, quite a scary thing when you see the size of those teeth h:

 

[Rocky]

The only baboons we have are those behind the wheel

Dave, I didn't know that you had a accident and suffered a dislocated shoulder. Now we have more than just Triumph motorcycles in common :ya2:

 

[DaveM]

Rocky this was back in the early 80's I still had my Honda 750 K1 at the time :y114: However I do remember it quite well I must admit.

 

[dazco]

Wow, baboons !! You really DO live in Africa don't you ! h: I've only seen em on TV, but i'd freak if i had to drive thru a bunch of em. Thems a nasty bunch !

 

[DaveM]

They even have signs on the road side telling you not to feed them and you can get a fine if you are caught feeding them as well :y18: I must admit when I am in the car it does not bother me that much. However the one time on the bike I had to do the ride between them and then I was not that happy.

 

[Rocky]

Dave, I figured your injury happened some time ago and wasn't recent.
If you're anything like me it's something you will never forget.
Yesterday, while working out at home I reached a new level of mobility in my shoulder :y115:
I'm pretty happy with the way things have been going so far. It will be five months on Friday since the crash.
What a joy it is to have most of your life back.

 

[DaveM]

You right Rocky you never forget it and you learn by it and carry on. Great to hear that you are staring to come along nicely now so by the time spring comes around you should be ready for your fist ride :y18:

 

[CarlS]

Glad to hear of the continued progress, Rocky. :y115:

 

[The Seeker]

Hey....where'd you get that picture of my relatives Dave?!