Wildlife on the roads

[Skubarra]

4 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I'm not too fussed. I grew up on a farm and know to leave the snakes well enough alone. If you leave them be you won't get bitten. What cyclists must do is to be alert when out riding and when you get to a place where you want to stop, then first look where you intend to put your foot down, especially if you are riding narrow single track and you step off right against a shrub or a bush. Snakes lurk underneath shrubs to hide from birds of prey and to get out of the sun.

Another place on the trails you will definitely find a snake is at the bottom of Happy Hops on Contermans. With all those piles of rocks, farm implements and stuff lying around upon which the dassies tan all day long, you can bet your last rand that there will be snêks lurking not too far off. Protective environment and a source of food. What more would a snake want?

I hear you, but I didn't grew up on a farm and some of those things are huge (and I swear sometimes they chase me...)

[tinmug]

On 11/1/2022 at 7:59 AM, Mamil said:

I dated a vet for some time (turned out maminals were not her favourite animal after all) and she told me that moving tortoises is risky cos it can cause them to pee which dehydrates them.

 

That's true, but it does help when you hold them close to the ground when you move them. 

Another good reason to move the remains of something that was hit by (probably) a car is that a range of other critters – birds, insects, scavengers – will descent on the remains and are at risk of being flattened by a passing car. 

[Barry]

Found this on my Whatsapp group. Looks like this guy lost his battle with a porcupine. Sealant seems to of held up.

[tinmug]

How?

[openmind]

My WhatsApp group has the story:

"Morning Jen. Just have to share with you in particular!  My Brother Gav had an extraordinary bicycle accident last evening involving two porcupines!  He was riding along the False Bay fenceline, when a big bugger came bolting under the fence and into the road in front of him... he braked, and went over the handle bars where he landed with the porcupine entangled in the bicycle  between his legs .. he was completely disorientated and next thing another one came out from under the fenceline and attacked him in defense of the other one it seems. He got peppered with quills, most of them not deep except for two which were properly embedded in his front ankle.   He was lying there when he saw two sets of headlights coming toward him. Lo and behold the occupants were a doctor in o e vehicle and a plastic surgeon in the other, the latter having full medical kit. They gave him a local anesthetic and got all the quills out on the side of the road, during which time a local farmer also joined the scene and took him and his bicycle home! 🤣..amazing story!"

and..

"All the quills were in my legs and a few in my hands, that first impact is what put that deep one in my ankle. The craziest thing was the other one that came and tried to smoke me while I was lying in the dust. Really interesting that it's mate would come and help it seems."