Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Ya I thought so like Tigers look like big kitty cats!!
I'm sure there continues to be taxonomic arguments over where domestic dogs came from.
But to answer the OP's original question about encountering animal wildlife while out walking, yes. Many times but mostly coyotes while walking just for pleasure.
I've come across wild animals many times whether walking, biking, hiking, brush hogging our fields or on horseback in the mountains.
Scariest has been feral dog pack while on foot at the farm and most intimidating was encountering elk very closeup during rut on horseback in the mountains. Common to see coyotes (they keep their distance and go about their business of watering at ponds while passing through) at the farm, have come across bears biking (they usually run away). Most shocking...a very large wolf standing in the middle of the highway at 2 am in the morning in Wisconsin. Most annoying are raccoons and possums.
I don't think raccoons are creepy either. And skunks seldom hurry. Most intelligent animals get out of their way.
'Most' raccoons are not creepy. I did watched a large male raccoon stand its ground against a four point buck that could have stomped it to death.
I was duck hunting once and, having a very successful day, shot my last shot at a duck that fell into high swamp grass. That was right in the middle of the day. I went out to retrieve the duck and started to reach down in the swamp grass that was moving. Then I saw teeth coming up at my fingers and I quickly removed my hand. There was a large raccoon out in the middle of the daytime and I had no bullets left for my shotgun! It came after me and it is almost impossible to run in tall swamp grass, it is hard enough to walk. I used my hand-to-hand combat training with my trusty Model 12 and won the battle without a tooth mark. But it did not go down quickly. I was worried about rabies.
But, yes, most raccoons could care less about humans and only want to stay out the way.
As far as skunks: Just never surprise them. They do not like surprises and you would not like it if they were surprised. If I see one outside I talk to it like I would talk to a dog. That lets it know where I am at and they usually go about their business.
yup-if you're going to surprise a skunk, best waddle away as fast as possible.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
