First night in hammock, freaked out by sound in woods.

**Equalizer** · 06-26-2018, 10:59

Jeff-oh,

LOL! That's makes for some great campfire stories.
As a kid, when I heard about Mothman I would laugh at the irony. You know, a monster moth.
Sometimes I'd remember the old Godzilla /mothra movie, or the Tick cartoon and his sidekick Arthur.
Then I went and ruined it by seeing the Mothman prophesies movie. Led clocks, glowing red eyes....creepy stuff.

**robertjackson** · 06-26-2018, 11:02

The sounds can be too funny sometimes.
On one of my first trips I heard a large munching and heavy stepping sounds, and I thought it may be a bear.
Turned out to be a sheep herders horse got loose and was eating next to my hammock.

**Ozarks Walkabout** · 06-26-2018, 14:53

I was spooked by an armadillo while solo backpacking a month or so ago.

Maybe I shouldn't admit to that in public.

We had a similar experience camped out in the wilderness a few years back. In our case, it was several deer, with an alpha doe that was obviously very unhappy with our presence. She was huffing, puffing, and stamping. The doe even approached our camp and shook its hoves at us (or whatever deer have on their feet). I thought it was quite funny, as it was the start of the bow hunting season, and there we were, with a bright yellow tent, and all the deer you could want. Who says you need camo?

**SilvrSurfr** · 06-26-2018, 17:12

I went camping in the Pine Barrens once with a city slicker from downtown Philly. He was so used to the nightly cacophony of inner city living that he didn't even hear a pack of coyotes coming up on us.

"It sounds like they're about to enter our camp," I said. "What's about to enter our camp?" he asked. "The coyotes - haven't you heard them howling?" I queried.

He hadn't heard them - he was fairly oblivious to outdoor sounds because of the loudness of urban living!

**Shug** · 06-26-2018, 17:24

It is why we go out there. To hear and feel and smell what is going on at night.
Learn to enjoy it.
I used to go practice just sitting in the woods in pitch black late at night. The world is quieter so we hear more and are super tuned in.
You'll get used to it I hope.
Shug

**Animal** · 06-26-2018, 20:31

Ever heard a fox scream in the middle of the night?
https://youtu.be/zk1mAd77Hr4

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**Seadug** · 06-26-2018, 21:29

Fisher cats can sound a little scary at night. Coyotes also sound a little bigger and closer too. Some nights i feel like I'm sleeping in a Pinata. Ha ha

**Animal** · 06-27-2018, 06:53

A rutting bobcat sounds like a baby crying.
That'll tighten your suspenders when you are Miles from anywhere.

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**professrh** · 06-27-2018, 09:57

Scariest sound I ever heard in the night woods--decades ago--turned out to be a Barn Owl. I had to show cool because it was freaking out my partner, a first-time backpacker who had just taken out her contacts. But it sure did stand up the hairs on the back of my neck.

ETA: mp3 of Barn Owl scream
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/sounds

**professrh** · 06-27-2018, 11:31

By the way, thanks to you all for the inspiration: I'm now compiling an anthology of scary night noises to send to my stepdaughter before she comes with us on her first backpacking trip ever. (We'll be in the Adirondacks, in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area).