thebeliever

I think I may have come close to being eaten-- or at least tasted-- by some large, unknown animal a few hours ago. Hiking out in the backwoods in the evening, I heard a HUGE animal tearing through some branches and huffing and puffing. I tried to make out what it was, but could not, and got the hell out of there.

So when I get back down to the trail head, I talk to a ranger and tell her about what I heard. She mentions that a mountain lion has been spotted in that area.

So I'm thinking one of three possibilities:

a) A big feral pig, rooting around in the bushes. (Though I've heard them before, and I've never heard one that sounded so huge, or who broke what sounded like thick branches.)

b) The afore-mentioned mountain lion, who may have been dragging prey to a "hiding place", which they are wont to do. (Yes, I know they are usually stealthy, but perhaps not in this situation.)

c) The least likely: a bear. Possibly a stoned bear, looking for honey and just falling all over the place.

I like "c" the best, but only because I'm safe in my apartment now.