I got broadsided on my way to work this morning...

[Jamesp]

By a racoon!

A big one was chasing an even bigger one across the median into the road right in front of me just before sunrise. If you felt the earth tilt slightly on its axis early this morning that was me nailing the brakes. I'd slowed from 45MPH down to about 10MPH and saw the bigger one scoot out in front of the car. The smaller apparently confused by a huge squealing monster turned into my front fender and hit in front of the front wheel. Really made a heck of a bang. I saw him scamper back into the median in my side mirror.



And that will buff out!

[imon_2nd]

Not too bad a hit, James.

The last hour before sunrise is also an animal show in NorCal. Driving to work and still in my neighborhood one morning, I saw a Deer on the shoulder, so I stopped. The Deer was frozen in place. I crept forward very slowly to get past the animal. As my right front fender was even with the Deer, it leaped at my car, bounced off and fell onto its side on the shoulder of the road. I got out and walked over to the Deer. When I crouched down to take a close look, it rolled onto its feet and took off. The fender was toast. These days, when I spot an animal roadside, I stop if possible and beep my horn until it moves away.

My brother lives in Vermont. His stories about Moose on the road are much more scary.

Cheers,

Dave

[BYprodriver]

I lived in Alaska in the late sixties when moose roamed freely just about anywhere. If a car hit a moose, often the moose would walk away & the car was totaled.
Snowplows where called Moose-gooser's.

[thstone]

Its surprising how often animals run into cars!

A deer broad-sided my son's 325i square in the passenger door. $6,500 in damage. And yes, the deer got up and ran away.

Glad that the damage is fairly minor.

[Need_for_speed]

Seems to me the raccoon is definitely at fault. Did you exchange insurance info?

[CoBeerToad]