What makes this sound at night?

[Windwalker2]

Originally Posted by Marcy1210

Javalina huff and snort while they're using their snouts to rummage for grubs, bugs and plant roots in the soil. My dogs go nuts inside when they hear those sounds. They will also snort and snuff and sound like they're breathing heavily while they're nursing their young, or to round up older youngsters. They also stink like skunks. In November, they go after all the acorns that fall from our oak trees, and with the windows open that time of year, their stench is putrid, a lot like skunks but it doesn't burn your nose, just makes you slightly nauseous.

What I was hearing sounded exactly like regular heavy breathing, not snorting. No smell. It went on for half an hour, probably longer after I stopped listening to it. Loudly talking about calling the sheriff or the BP did not change the pace or volume of the breathing sound at all, so I think it wasn't a person.
I'm hoping it wasn't a mountain lion.

[beTucsonan]

Originally Posted by Windwalker2

I'm hoping it wasn't a mountain lion.

The reason I'd vote against the mountain lion or bobcat theory is that these are smart animals who would naturally try to avoid contact with you and would likely leave when you made noise - or at least take care to stop making any noises themselves. A javelina, on the other hand, may be nature's stupidest invention outside of the rocks themselves, and you never can tell what will or won't spook those silly animals. Their breathing can be pretty loud, so perhaps on the other side of the wall, far enough that you wouldn't smell it. I know at my house at night sounds carry surprisingly far.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by beTucsonan

A javelina, on the other hand, may be nature's stupidest invention outside of the rocks themselves...

[Windwalker2]

Originally Posted by beTucsonan

The reason I'd vote against the mountain lion or bobcat theory is that these are smart animals who would naturally try to avoid contact with you and would likely leave when you made noise - or at least take care to stop making any noises themselves. A javelina, on the other hand, may be nature's stupidest invention outside of the rocks themselves, and you never can tell what will or won't spook those silly animals. Their breathing can be pretty loud, so perhaps on the other side of the wall, far enough that you wouldn't smell it. I know at my house at night sounds carry surprisingly far.

Good points

[Marcy1210]

Originally Posted by beTucsonan

A javelina, on the other hand, may be nature's stupidest invention outside of the rocks themselves,

I ran out of paper towels cleaning the coffee off my monitor....

A truer statement has never been made.