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catbyte

(34,326 posts)

6. About 20 years ago, my late husband & I went whalewatching on a zodiac in the AuAu Channel

Sun Jan 7, 2018, 07:58 PM

Jan 2018

between Maui & Lanai. There were 12 of us on the boat & we were going at a pretty good clip looking for Humpback whales. All of a sudden we were completely surrounded by a pod of about 24 Pacific White Sided dolphins. As I leaned over the side to get a better look at them, one cruised right up to me, rolled on his/her side & suddenly we were eye-to-eye. S/he stayed there for at least a couple of minutes and I was frozen, mesmerized. Nobody can tell me that they aren't sentient beings. I saw intelligence, curiosity and even a hint of amusement in that eye. Too soon, the pod broke off & were off on other adventures. I will never, ever forget that very special encounter.

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Highlight:

Most unusual encounters with a wild animal (any kind that isn't someones pet) [View all] Stuart G Jan 2018 OP

Not sure if goats count, lapucelle Jan 2018 #1

Yes, wild goats count.. Met a mother goat and its child on a trail in Glacier National Park once Stuart G Jan 2018 #4

A friend was gored and bled to death by a mt goat. I wasn't there, but they are not small tame goat uppityperson Jan 2018 #29

I brought my kitten sam up to the cottage. I put food out for her at night. She was inside applegrove Jan 2018 #2

taking a walk near where I work Skittles Jan 2018 #3

Thank You for sharing ...great story..wonderful. Stuart G Jan 2018 #5

Lovely! silverweb Jan 2018 #17

it does; what gorgeous creatures! Skittles Jan 2018 #20

(see #23 below...) lastlib Jan 2018 #25

see that would freak me out Skittles Jan 2018 #27

I'm so jealous.... silverweb Jan 2018 #26

the tufted ears are very cool indeed Skittles Jan 2018 #28

Yeah, they are. silverweb Jan 2018 #35

About 20 years ago, my late husband & I went whalewatching on a zodiac in the AuAu Channel catbyte Jan 2018 #6

What a memory! silverweb Jan 2018 #18

"...got out with camera, and got within two or three feet of it...." shanny Jan 2018 #7

I take my dog Max BigMin28 Jan 2018 #8

I was squirrel hunting one day and fell asleep sitting on the ground using a doc03 Jan 2018 #9

another one--dead of winter, out in woods looking for a cow about to have a calf.... lastlib Jan 2018 #32

That's quite cute uppityperson Jan 2018 #56

Oh...I forgot one..I was walking on a trail in the Everglades National Park once. Stuart G Jan 2018 #10

I think it was more of an unusual encounter for it TlalocW Jan 2018 #11

As a kid we vacationed Texasgal Jan 2018 #12

What a thrill. silverweb Jan 2018 #19

Oh...just about wild animals...disclaimer.....we think that the ones discussed here are extremely Stuart G Jan 2018 #13

Two in 2017. First was at home. Went out my back door and came sinkingfeeling Jan 2018 #14

Coyote sighting in the middle of Los Angeles DBoon Jan 2018 #15

wow handmade34 Jan 2018 #16

A squirrel bit my finger. GreenEyedLefty Jan 2018 #21

Last July I reached into a bag of mulch Comatose Sphagetti Jan 2018 #22

Middle of the night. In the woods. In my sleeping bag........ lastlib Jan 2018 #23

I was peed on by a tiger TubbersUK Jan 2018 #24

I was peed on by an ourang-outang hvn_nbr_2 Jan 2018 #40

That sounds almost cute :) TubbersUK Jan 2018 #41

Some years ago, I was visiting my father's grave on his birthday. greatauntoftriplets Jan 2018 #30

On a canoe trip, we drank a lot of koolaid before bed Jarqui Jan 2018 #31

You were very fortunate to get away unscathed!! 2naSalit Jan 2018 #36

Bears usually do not like noise Jarqui Jan 2018 #43

I wouldn't bet money on your last statement.... 2naSalit Jan 2018 #44

This stuff happened many years ago and maybe we were naive. Jarqui Jan 2018 #48

Bears can move much faster than a human but not for as long a time. PufPuf23 Jan 2018 #54

Camping in New Zealand jpak Jan 2018 #33

Walking down a trail in SE AK bush when I came to a sudden stop because something unseen was uppityperson Jan 2018 #34

That's 2naSalit Jan 2018 #37

Black bear or brown bear? nt PufPuf23 Jan 2018 #51

There were lots of black, but I was near the ocean where there are also brownies uppityperson Jan 2018 #53

There is a big difference. PufPuf23 Jan 2018 #55

I know there's a big difference, just don't know from those tracks that time uppityperson Jan 2018 #57

Not in Alaska and have not been there since 1997. PufPuf23 Jan 2018 #62

Years ago a wild turkey nearly knocked my off my stoop csziggy Jan 2018 #38

get some bear spray, it works on more than just bears...nt 2naSalit Jan 2018 #46

Big problem for me with bear spray - it is capsaicin csziggy Jan 2018 #47

That would be a problem... 2naSalit Jan 2018 #49

Not a Happy Ending, unfortunately Nictuku Jan 2018 #39

We let manatees drink from our house at the end of dewsgirl Jan 2018 #42

i speak chipmunk. would sit out on our lake cottage 'patio' w/ seeds + being a food station. pansypoo53219 Jan 2018 #45

Reading through this is reminding me of several encounters I've had. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2018 #50

I have tons of stories 2naSalit Jan 2018 #52

Great thread. Mine's not exciting... Duppers Jan 2018 #58

Porcupine jberryhill Jan 2018 #59

I got carjacked by a bear.... fNord Jan 2018 #60

A raccoon stole my lunch. jg10003 Jan 2018 #61

My encounters LWolf Jan 2018 #63

Wow. Carried a weapon with you? Duppers Jan 2018 #69

No weapon, LWolf Jan 2018 #70

I lived in a cabin in the woods and... zanana1 Jan 2018 #64

I was in the back part of the house when I heard something hit the front of the house. bullsnarfle Jan 2018 #65

Great OP and threads marked50 Jan 2018 #66

Returning home after a late shift years ago... Orrex Jan 2018 #67

My cousin and I came across a cougar while we were hiking in Wisconsin. Luciferous Jan 2018 #68