Cycling Safely Around Wildlife in Southern Illinois

[Shawn Gossman]

Southern Illinois is home to diverse wildlife, and encountering animals during your ride can be both exciting and challenging.

It's important to know how to react when you come across wildlife to ensure your safety and theirs.

Have you had any memorable wildlife encounters while cycling in Southern Illinois?

What safety tips would you recommend to fellow cyclists?

 

[Rom]

A few years ago during the superman ride we were headed out of Joppa and I was on the front taking a pull and a squirrel met his fate running under my front wheel and go kicked up onto the rider behind me. Felt bad, but that's the worst I've had. I've had more issues with the bipedal wildlife in steel rolling cages

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I'd rode up on copperheads and cottonmouths many times.

We have plenty of rattlers out there, too, especially around Kinkaid.

They say they're at Dixon. I've never seen them there, I don't know.