The Wild Kingdom

[MrMorden]

Reposted from the CTFlier Forum:

That's what it felt like yesterday. I landed at Monroe, GA (D73) in the morning, and came somewhat close to hitting a deer on roll out. After a fun day of flying, I returned to homebase at Winder GA (WDR) at dusk, and just before the flare a coyote darted across the runway! No harm done in either case, but I will be much more watchful for critters in the future!

Here's a video of the deer incident, it starts at about 1:22, deer runs across from the left. The GoPro is a somewhat wide angled, the deer sure looked closer in person. I had to get on the brakes fairly aggressively to keep my distance, and I was afraid there might be more behind him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjrNrBvBelo

[designrs]

Makes a good point for making sure eyes are still outside the airplane on rollout.
Thanks for sharing Andy.

[Paul Z]

My brother live in a subdivision called Pecan Plantation, that has a small airstrip. The HOA just has 400 deer removed because of over population. I continuously have to have my head on a swivel when I am landing at his place.

[chavycha]

A group of seven deer wandered out onto the runway last night on me. At the time, I was practicing my short-field takeoffs, so I cleared the "obstacle" by about 50'. Had it been a normal takeoff, it might have been more interesting. To top it off, as I climbed out through about 100' AGL, a group of swallows dive-bombed the airplane, which required some quick maneuvering.

Never hurts to be prepared and aware!

[drseti]

Sounds as though you fly out of a nature preserve, Scott.

[MrMorden]

A group of seven deer wandered out onto the runway last night on me. At the time, I was practicing my short-field takeoffs, so I cleared the "obstacle" by about 50'. Had it been a normal takeoff, it might have been more interesting. To top it off, as I climbed out through about 100' AGL, a group of swallows dive-bombed the airplane, which required some quick maneuvering.

Never hurts to be prepared and aware!

We have some encounters with small birds, but the turkey buzzards (think small eagle size) are a real hazard. They like to turn little laze circles in the pattern at my home field.

That's him, officer, that's the bird that assaulted my airplane! :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

[3Dreaming]

A group of seven deer wandered out onto the runway last night on me. At the time, I was practicing my short-field takeoffs, so I cleared the "obstacle" by about 50'. Had it been a normal takeoff, it might have been more interesting. To top it off, as I climbed out through about 100' AGL, a group of swallows dive-bombed the airplane, which required some quick maneuvering.

Never hurts to be prepared and aware!

We have some encounters with small birds, but the turkey buzzards (think small eagle size) are a real hazard. They like to turn little laze circles in the pattern at my home field.

That's him, officer, that's the bird that assaulted my airplane! :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

Andy, I think the only time the Buzzards show up is when certain people are flying. Recently I have been seeing them at my airport when flying with students.

[MrMorden]

Andy, I think the only time the Buzzards show up is when certain people are flying. Recently I have been seeing them at my airport when flying with students.

I should adopt them as my totem animal then...the bastards *love* me.