Unexpected visitors in your campsite.

[CajunCamper]

Have any of you had a guest like this come walking through your campsite. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooKJ6926rXo

By the way does anyone else think the guy taking the video sounds like Ray from "Everybody Loves Raymond"?

CajunCamper

[Daddie_Tom]

Last time we were at Ludington SP, We were sitting by the fire and all the sudden my dog woke out of a sound sleep on my lap because a Raccoon was about 5 feet away from me. :yikes:  We were cooking hot dogs over the fire and he wanted one..     He would not leave. He scared the kids half to death. They literally "Invade" that campground at night looking for food..

[Camp&Fish]

On my last trip, we had deer invade camp every night.  There must be a few "problem" deer there because at least one had a bell around its neck.  They liked the left over donuts, and surprisingly, the left over beef fajita meat.

[dkutz]

Well we have had all kind of visitors.  From crows, to racoons to squirells to ...Bears.

I made a DO choc cake one night, and we had lots left over, so we decided to save it for the next night.  At about 2am DW and I both awoke to the sound of the DO lid coming off, and the distinct sound of slurping.  Peeked out to see a nice bear eating my left overs.  Luckily he knocked the DO over and scared himself off.  It was neat until we realized that our trash can was right under our end.

[Techrangerbrad]

We were camping a couple of years ago at Cove Palisades, OR.  I awoke early - side note - why is it when I am camping I wake  up at first light, but when I am at home, I want to sleep in - anyway, came out of the camper and started to make coffee, went to grab the pot and noticed a porcupine sitting on the table right next to the coffee pot.  I slowly drew my hand back and did the responsible thing . . . grabbed my camcorder and started filming.  A whole mess of them came ambling through our campsite.  I was actually thankful at that moment that my son was inside asleep and I did not have a dog.

They moved through and kept ambling around the park.  Every once in a while it is nice to be reminded that we are the visitors to their "home".

[Dee4j]

well I've had 5 racoons run under the table and brush past me climb a tree and then stare me down I was the only one up by the campfire. at that point I decided it was a good time to go to bed.

I've also had a mama bear and baby bear outside my trailer...I was camping alone with the kids...surprised I didn't wake the kids with all the stomping around I did in the trailer hoping they'd do away.

[AustinBoston]

There is a very effective way to deal with problem raccoons.

Feed them.

Just make sure it's laced with more habaneros (sp?) than most tough humans would eat.  They will leave IMMEDIATELY.  It will not do permanent harm, and they will steer clear of your site for weeks.

Austin

PS - Don't ask me how I know this...

[flyfisherman]

Last time we were at Ludington SP, We were sitting by the fire and all the sudden my dog woke out of a sound sleep on my lap because a Raccoon was about 5 feet away from me. :yikes:  We were cooking hot dogs over the fire and he wanted one..     He would not leave. He scared the kids half to death. They literally "Invade" that campground at night looking for food..

Yeah, them Michigan 'coons are tough critters! Around these parts we just shoo at them and they waddle away. One time I was camped up around Mio fishing the AuSable River and managed to catch some trout for dinner. While I was cooking the trout just about time it was getting dark ... had lit the Coleman gas lantern and there was a campfire burning ... and there appeared a racoon out of nowhere, did'nt care about the campfire or ME and came right up to the picnic table where I was cooking. I tried to shoo him away but all he did was hiss at me! He  did'nt back up an inch! He was'nt going anywhere until he got his cut!

[Daddie_Tom]

Another time I was sitting by the fire in the afternoon. And all the sudden"Doink" right on top of my head with a nut that a squirrel "Threw" at me. I looked up and he did that "Chuckle" that squirrels do just like he was laughing at me..

[OC Campers]

We have had all sorts of creatures in our campsite.  The worst one was the 2 legged variety.  About 20 years ago, we were camping at Big Sycamore Canyon (near Malibu) and about 3 am I heard a rustling outside.  I didn't think too much about it because we'd had raccoon problems the night before.  I peaked out the window and there was this guy rummaging thru our cooler.  He also stole our coffee pot.  I couldn't believe how brazen he was.  I guess he needed something for breakfast.

Jacqui

[ScouterMom]

I peaked out the window and there was this guy rummaging thru our cooler.  He also stole our coffee pot.  I couldn't believe how brazen he was.  I guess he needed something for breakfast.

and
 
It was neat until we realized that our trash can was right under our end.


Those are why, no matter how late or tired we are, I stick to 'scout rules'  -

all garbage goes to the garbage cans or in the vehicles at night, and all food goes inside, too - either in the camper or the vehicles.

We don't camp in bear country (at least, not in recent years and not in a camper) and when we DID camp in bear territory, we never allowed food of any kind near the tents so they can't attract the critters. I love the animals - and love watching them - but even the cutest critter can cause major damage to your equipment, pets or family.  Sometimes people forget that they aren't just 'cute'  they are WILD ANIMALS and they will behave like animals!

Love the Bison video, though - way cool!  
(and yeah - he DOES sound like Raymond!, LOL!)

Reminds me of a story my sister told - she and her husband live in Nevada - and they were out in Colorado? somewhere out west, fishing.  Irv had gone downstream, and came back periodically to check up on her. Ruth was concentrating on detangling her line when she heard Irv return, and was standing in her waders hip deep in the stream when she felt a soft touch on her shoulder and warm breath in her ear - she turned to tell Irv to quit teasing, and was face to nose with a big MOOSE!  She was so startled she lost her balance & sat down rather abruptly - her waders filled and she flailed around a bit - luckily the moose just backed off......

[dthurk]

Was thinking along the same lines, ScouterMom, while reading this thread.  Seems quite a few here are reporting leaving food out overnight in their campsite.  Unless you WANT the overnight visitors, get rid of all signs of food and cooking before you go to bed.  Have to agree that the bison video is neat.  We will be at Yellowstone this summer.  Hope to see some of those big beasts while there, hopefully not in our camper.

[CajunCamper]

Look at the woman in the video walking around her car as the buffalo passes. She's got her hand on her head like she can't believe this is happening. I love it.

We've never had buffalo in our campsite but we've had the racoons, we've had deer, rabbits and once we even had a alligator in our site.

We were camping at Indian Creek here in Louisiana and our site was on the Lake. We woke up one morning to find an eight foot alligator next to our kayaks that were pulled up on the bank. They have large campsites there so the gator was at least 30 yards away from our popup. I was actually going to get in a little fishing before breakfast and when I got down to my kayak, there he was. He looked at me and I scratched my head and looked at him. I stood there for probably 2 minutes just looking at him looking at me. I went down to my kayak keeping the two kayaks in between me and him and started putting my fishing gear in it. He then slowly turned and went into the water and began swimming down the bank. I then put my kayak in and followed him for a bit until I got to my fishing spot. He finally climbed up on a log and hung out there the entire time I fished the area. He just wanted to get a little sun I guess.

CajunCamper

[flyfisherman]

Of course, one should pay attention to where one sits down ... say on a log ...?

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

We were camping in Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park, CO and woke up to see about 15 mountain goats grazing grass near our site, then about 30 minutes later a big herd of elk passed by about 300 yards away.

Other than that just squirels, raccoons,  skunks and a drunk or 2.