Accidental animal crueltyI once invented a brilliant game - I'd sit at the top of the stairs and throw cat biscuits to the bottom. My cat would eat them, then I'd shake the box, and he would run up the stairs for more biscuits. Then - of course - I'd throw a biscuit back down to the bottom. I kept this going for about half an hour, amused at my little game, and all was fine until the cat vomited. I felt absolutely dreadful.
Have you accidentally been cruel to an animal?
This question has been revived from way, way, way back on the b3ta messageboard when it was all fields round here.
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rob, Thu 6 Dec 2007, 11:13)
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CyclingAs many of you know, I rode 478 miles in 7 days this past July across the state of Iowa with The Lance. In preparation for that ride, I was logging around 40-50 miles per day in the saddle of my trusty Trek bicycle and predominantly on the Baltimore Annapolis Trail which is a beautiful wooded trail that runs almost entirely from Baltimore to Annapolis, through suburbia and lots of woods.
So its hot. I am plugging along, right around 15 miles per hour. Now, 15 miles per hour is NOT fast by any stretch of the imagination...and those of you that know me would not saddle me with the adjectives fast or quick. I am made for American football. But this one day I was tooling along. It was warm and I am sweating and decided that this lovely shaded stretch of trail was perfect for an enroute rehydration so I reached down for my water bottle...
It was then that I saw the American Grey Squirrel (sciurus carolinensis) trotting across the path, perprendicular to my axis of movement. Just as he reached my exact line of travel, he stopped and looked at me. No fear, just a kind of curious glance. Apparently something about my cycling jersey mesmerized him and he just sat there, sprawled perpendicular to my direction of travel.
"He will move" I think. "Squirrels are, by nature, squirrely and they tend to dart around a good bit. That is precisely what this specimen shall do as I draw nearer."
Well, he didnt.
At 15 mph, the act of riding OVER a squirrel is painfully slow and you FEEL things that you dont anticipate. I dont mean emotionally or spiritually, I mean, I FELT him under my wheels in a way that cannot be appreciated while driving a car at 40 mph over the same animal.
When I recovered, and engaged my brakes, wishing to remove what must surely be his lifeless, back broken carcass from the trail, prepared to fling his motionless little grey body into the waiting underbrush, as my head came around I saw him...that SAME look. As if he was giving me the "You DIDNT just ride over me did you?!" Then he sprung to all fours and turned to face me.
Off in the distance a tumbleweed rolled slowly across the trail and I could swear I heard a distant whistle, a la Clint Eastwood movies. As I closed the gap betwixt Mr Squirrel and I, he shook his body, as a wet dog will do to try and dry itself, gave a glance to the direction of the woods, back at me, and then he scampered off into the woods.
This squirrel had JUST been run over by a well built guy who clocks in at about 195 lbs, plus the weight of my bike..and he shook it off and carried on.
I doff my cap to you Mr. Squirrel. Until we meet again.
Sic Semper Sciurus
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Citadel Because the world needs less morons, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 4:58,
7 replies)
All these squirrel stories makes me (almost) wish we had them here."Hammy" from "over the hedge" just made them even seem more adorable still.
/aussie
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Sir Pigeon Nipples Did you sit in some sugar?, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 6:32,
closed)
There aren't squirrels in Australia?!Bloody hell, I never knew that!
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Bob Todd whee, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 6:37,
closed)
Down Under.
Well I'm down under at the moment and I don't miss them one little bit. Squirrels are just rats with agood PR Agency.
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Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 8:58,
closed)
Squirrel pizzaI once accidentally dropped a 50kg anvil on a squirrel. It did not recover.
(, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 9:05, closed)
Squirrels are evil little sods.One day you will go out to your bike shed and he will be there waiting.
(, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 9:21, closed)
Agreed, squirrels are evilOne took a shine to my ex wife and followed her home. Evil seeks out evil I guess...
Make sure you check your tyres next time you ride Citadel, there may be two little bite marks.
BTW, if you're ever in the UK and feel like a bike ride then let me know.
(, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 10:28, closed)
It was a trick!All the other squirrels ran out and carted off the dead body, whilst an identical squirrel got into position. Those little guys take practical jokes very seriously.
(, Fri 7 Dec 2007, 14:02, closed)
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