Of all the times I have been out on the trails, one of the aspects I enjoy the most is the chance to experience nature in her own backyard. The most epic line, for me, will always be overshadowed by a cool encounter with a deer, coyote, hell...even a squirrel or a hummingbird! Let's see some photos of your encounters with some trail critters! Such as some baby skunks!
YES! I must presume your encounter was much like my own with an adult skunk...they cruise up to you with a "Sup bud?" atittude? Knowing that, or at least assuming, you know what would happen should you decide to disregard what a skunk can do to you?
Had in interesting run in with Frogs/ Small Toads on B* last wednesday, saw about 20 or. I sure hope they're out this week and I'll be ready with the camera.
Night rides at Sycamore Canyon: 1) Kangaroo rats galore darting in and out of their holes, narrowly missing getting their tails amputated, 2) giant bunnies that run into your front tire and 3) 1 frog. No pics though, too dark!
Toads! Saw this monster at Wildwood in Thousand Oaks. Sucker was huge! We had the strangest craving for a Budweiser after this encounter, can't quite explain it. Couple nights later we saw about 6 or 7 mallard hens further up the trail in one of the creek crossings that seemed to love carrot cake Clif bars! No photos though, bah.
To the T. Hanging out at the trail junction and this critter was shuffling leaves around about six feet away. Thought it might be a cottontail or a snake. Looked down and yikes.
I believe it! There's a video floating around on Youtube of a rabbit opening a big ol' can of WA on a crow. Never seen anything like it! Found it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WS9FTuql3k
Saw this guy down in Georgia last year. This is why you let your buddy go first if you are the first people on the trail in the morning. This guy tried to get me out at Hahn Trail.
Human Trail Kritter... Sailor Ripley aka Western White-Legged Ballbuster No joke... Check his signature Velvet ant (actually a member of the wasp family)
I saw this guy on a ride once in Sullivan. I thought it was Dino running off to take a leak but he denied it.
You wouldn't think it, but the Western White Legged BallBuster is a descendant. Note the (slightly less) hairy arms and less than upright posture. As for the Squirrel... not necessarily a trail-find, but common place in the yard. The dogs cornered this one in a pipe, and I set the pipe against the tree so it could escape. It was exhausted and rested in the tree for hours... while the dogs waited impatiently.
Thanks for the reminder. I forgot about this story. We saw this guy near upper camp at El moro on the way out. On the way back he or a friend was stagnit in the middle of the trail. I tried to encourage him to "get along lil doggie" but to know avail. I managed to get him in hand to move all was well until I stood up to mive him and he scurred right up my arm. Holy crap scared me and the guys I was with. [youtube]oDRzLqrntso[/youtube]