One of the exciting things about trail running is the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife while on the trail. Some of these encounters can be enjoyable while others can be a little frightening. Here are some of my observations regarding the various creatures I’ve encountered while running trails around the country.

Among the more common creatures to be encountered on the trail or on the roads is deer. When I come upon a deer on the trail neither of us tend to be very frightened. Deer will often bound across the trail or just watch me pass. On the rare occasion that the deer and I take off in the same direction it offers the opportunity for a little speedwork if I choose to try to accomplish the hopeless goal of keeping up.

Another creature that is commonly encountered on the trail, for better or worse, is the rattlesnake. I have learned a couple things regarding snakes on trail. First, it is much better to cross paths with a rattler while running through the desert where you can see it well in advance and take the appropriate avoidance measures. Running upon a rattlesnake in the East is more frightening since it can hide in the underbrush and not be seen until the last second. At that point you get to practice split-second decision making as you try to extend your stride to jump over it rather than to step on it. Regardless, the key to meeting a snake on trail is to be the first in your group to run into it because the first person usually frightens it and the second person is more likely to get bitten!

Running in Shenandoah National Park has provided me the opportunity to come face to face with black bear on more than one occasion. While black bears are not usually eager to attack, I am always a little wary of them in case I have come between them and their cubs, which could easily provoke them into attacking me. However, when viewed from a safe distance the black bear can be an impressive creature to encounter on the trail.

A more unusual creature to encounter is one of the various cats that inhabit the woods and mountains. They tend to be as frightened of us as we are of them, which is probably a good thing. My only encounter with a bobcat came while I was doing a multi-day run along the Tuscarora Trail. One night just after sunset I was running slowly along a peaceful ridgeline, taking it easy since it was my third day on trail. All of a sudden, as I was taking in a view of the silhouette of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I saw a pair of eyes staring at me from about 10 yards away. The bobcat and I realized what we were seeing at about the same time and we took off in opposite directions. I had not run that fast in days!

I highly recommend taking time to enjoy the overlooks you come across on trail. If you are lucky you can see a wide variety of birds soaring through the air. I have seen everything from eagles and hawks to owls and Peregrine falcons. Watching these birds provides me another opportunity to admire some of the creatures that call the mountains home.

The wildlife found in the Sonoran desert of the Southwestern U.S. has allowed me to see some unusual creatures. Among them, the javelina and the gila monster. While the gila monster sounds somewhat frightening, I have found it to be a relatively peaceful creature. The gila monster is a large lizard that I have found sunning itself on the rocks in the late afternoon. It is always a pleasant surprise to see one and it never posed much of a threat to me. On the other hand, the javelina is a nasty wild boar that is worth avoiding. I have only seen a couple of them, but one of them actually started running after me. I was forced to run quickly and hoped that I had done enough speedwork to at least outrun my trail-running friends!

In summary, the woods and mountains are filled with a wide variety of animals that always add to the trail running experience, whether from the pleasure of their presence or the threat of imminent harm. It is just another element that makes every trail run different. The time spent slowing down to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife more than makes up for a slight decrease in the overall pace for the run.