Forum menu
I mean, what the heck? I've always had a healthy wariness and respect for Badgers as they're grumpy gits. I've likewise fostered a deep mistrust of Squirrels over the years as I believe they're in league with Cats and plan to take over the world. Tonight though, it was the turn of a thumping great Hare to scare the bejesus out of me.
I was just pedaling along, minding my own business when I spotted it about 50 metres away in an empty field. I was actually admiring it from afar until it looked up. Fixed me in it's death stare, and launched itself towards me at full speed.
I ended up in Jurassic Park mode, arms outstretched shouting "Whoa, Whoa Whoaaa!" at this nut job animal. It finally stopped short about 10 metres away and just....stared at me.
It's just not safe out there anymore.
Bike added for scale. The Hare was a bit smaller, but it was still a hoofer!
Is your name Donnie and was the hare called Frank?
How is Gypsy Glen? running?
I have had some cracking hare races on the descent through the glen itself. The only wildlife i have seen on that side ate newts in thd ditches.
Off the bike very big, or is the hare very far away?😉
I was just pedaling along, minding my own business when I spotted it about 50 metres away in an empty field. I was actually admiring it from afar until it looked up. Fixed me in it's death stare, and launched itself towards me at full speed.
I ended up in Jurassic Park mode, arms outstretched shouting "Whoa, Whoa Whoaaa!" at this nut job animal. It finally stopped short about 10 metres away and just....stared at me.
Couldn't you just have bunny hopped it?
Thumped by Thumoer 😁
Spotted a load this weekend wandering in dunes near Harlech. Wow, they are fast buggers - hardly making a mark on the dunes as we walked their track as the 'dudes' shot off.
Cougar beat me to it, I was going to ask whether you soiled your armour 😀
All I can see in that photo is a lot of far away scenery! I know just how big hares are, I’ve spent some time following one as it lolloped along a lane one night, with me following in my car, as it checked out various openings into fields through gateways or gaps in hedges, for nearly half a mile, before finding one it liked. They certainly aren’t like rabbits, they can hit roughly 30-40mph.
On one Sunday afternoon walk recently I counted 19 in a couple of linked fields, according to the game keeper who I spoke to one night while photographing aurora, due to their care in protecting them from coursers, they knew of at least 135. Beautiful creatures, their eyes are almost human in appearance.
Beautiful creatures, their eyes are almost human in appearance.
One of my favourite animals and a part of the reason I love the Masquerade book so much.
Just to be clear, this happened on my way up to Carron reservoir. The Big Nutjob Brown Hare isn't in the picture. Oh, and I believe it's eyes were red and mouth a'foaming for blood.
Had lots of near OTB moments with them dashing across just in front of the front wheel and avoiding the spokes just!
One of these days my luck will run out.
You just cannot see them in time lightning fast.
I suggest you carry a rabbit whistle next time in case it charges again. Works for me.if you see them at distance.
It sounds like the Easter bunny breed, protecting its territory just like some birds do, bombing cyclists.
Just do not egg it on!
Just to be clear, this happened on my way up to Carron reservoir. The Big Nutjob Brown Hare isn't in the picture. Oh, and I believe it's eyes were red and mouth a'foaming for blood.
You stay in Denny Loanhead so you should be used to most of the locals behaving like that.... 🙃
The discovery that it was actually a hare has ruined the sex toy joke I was building up
The only wildlife i have seen on that side ate newts in thd ditches.
What kind of wildlife eats newts?
The discovery that it was actually a hare has ruined the sex toy joke I was building up
Well it might not have been rampant but it was definitely hare-assment.
It’ll be gone now.
Hare today gone tomorrow.
Grey Wagtails eat newts. Our garden was visited by a gray wag which promptly eat all the small newts and cleared off.
Wildlife that has chased me:
Badger
Seal
Sheep
Crow
Snake
Croc (Freshie not Salty)
Also, a Squirrel threw its nuts at me.....
Nature - its out to get you!
I still bear the scar on the tip of my finger of being bitten by a rabbit. We had a big albino thing as a pet and one day i was stroking him on the nose (which let’s face it would annoy us all) and he made a lunge. There followed a few seconds of tug of war over who was taking ownership of my finger before the rabbit remembered it was a vegetarian. The flow of blood which followed suggested a visit to A&E was prudent. The attitude of the nurse who took a look at the wound alternated between sheer disbelief and the giggles. No stitches but an anti-tetanus jab later I was good to go.
Here in Suffolk we seem to be home to hares on steroids.
Nature - its out to get you!
Try riding in Australia! Everything is either bigger, has more teeth or is deadly poisonous. Sometimes all three.
Try riding in Australia! Everything is either bigger, has more teeth or is deadly poisonous. Sometimes all three.
Including the environment, that’s four, maybe the aquatic life as well, because if a shark doesn’t get you in the ocean, it’ll chase you inland up a river, then it might be an even bigger salty that chases you up the beach, then there’s tiny little jellyfish and bigger box jellyfish…
Not forgetting the drop bears…
Just remembered, when riding there are trees that will cause excruciating pain! The entire country hates white colonists! 🫢
I still bear the scar on the tip of my finger of being bitten by a rabbit.
As a kid I had a rabbit who was a bit eccentric. Her attempt to break out of her run to attack a cat was a particular highlight. Lucky it was one of those days it was secure vs others where after escaping she spent the day browsing the flowers before breaking back in.
My mum had a nursery job and took her in a couple of times for the kids to admire/stroke. It ended after one time a kid jabbed her and after being told "NO" decided to do it a second time. At which point she decided sod this for a game of soldiers and decided to eat the prodding finger.
Another highlight was a vet demonstrating tonic immobility on her. If you put a rabbit on its back apparently it triggers them to freeze although it is in reality high stress for them. However her response was turning her head from side to side a couple of times in a seemingly confused manner before deciding she wasnt happy and the appropriate response was to eat the vet.
Got attacked by a Green Woodpecker once. Vicious bastid. ... Screen grab attached.
I've had two encounters with badgers on night rides. The first time I heard the rattle of a wire fence then it ran between my wheels, a feat I doubt it'd manage now with a lower bottom bracket. The second time I heard some rumbling in the bushes and then I was on the deck. The badger ran into my back wheel and took the bike out from under me. We both stared at each other in a daze, or at least I know I was, maybe the badger was considering finishing me off but he/she turned tail and scampered off. I left a few skid marks.