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In reply to the discussion: Most unusual encounters with a wild animal (any kind that isn't someones pet) [View all]lastlib
(23,221 posts)Had been hiking a wilderness trail near Ft. Leonard Wood, but didn't make it to my expected campground before dark. Didn't want to be wandering around in the dark, so I just found a spot off the trail, threw down a ground tarp, rolled out my sleeping bag, and off to lala-land. During the night (no idea what time it was), I heard leaves rustling a short distance away. Shone my flashlight that direction and spotted two bright yellow eyes, probably twenty feet from me. And the body attached to them started growling rather unhappily when my light hit them. It was a bobcat, at least a thirty-pounder--that's a good-sized kitty! And he was open for business! So I started talking to him in the most pleasant voice I could muster. "nice kitty, pretty kitty, I won't hurt you, kitty, please go away, kitty...." Made a deal with him: he could stay there and I would stay here, and we won't hurt each other. He kept growling for a couple minutes (seemed like hours!) but I guess eventually he figured out that I was neither good to eat, nor a threat to him, so he finally wandered off. I kept talikng nicely to him until he was out of sight, and that was when all the air (and a noticeable amount of urine!) left my body. Whew! That was an experience I don't care to repeat any time soon!