What is the coolest animal to see in the backcountry?

This topic has 13 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 2 months ago by Lenny.

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August 6, 2007 at 8:01 pm #10736

BirdShooter
Keymaster

Nothin’ gets the heart racing like a grizz in the wilderness.

August 7, 2007 at 6:58 am #11523

Guests
Participant

This doesn’t rank up there with Grizzlies, but the nesting family, babies still in the tree, of pileated woodpeckers I saw this spring definitely ranks up there for me.

August 7, 2007 at 8:07 pm #11524

Tree Top Flyer
Participant

The coolest for me has to be alligators. I can sit and watch them all day long if they’re willing.

I love seeing black bear cubs climbing up the trees. However, I don’t stick around for long as momma bear is close.

August 9, 2007 at 11:12 am #11525

Guests
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I was on a canoe trip one time in Maine and saw a moose swimming across a lake. A friend and I were taking photos of the sunset and we saw the moose from a distance and got some pictures. That was a great moment in the backcountry. I still have that photo framed and hanging in my living room. It’s one of my most favorite moments in the wilderness……

August 17, 2007 at 12:25 pm #11526

Stagefright
Participant

I say Wolf. Never seen one before and it’s the only thing on the list that’s eluded me. I prefer to see a lone wolf over a pack. That would scare the shit out of me – especially at close range.

August 17, 2007 at 12:30 pm #11527

Guests
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I was camping at a wilderness area in ma.and on my way back to campsite saw something through brush so we waited and evetually a moose came into site we stayed in that spot and watched it come closer it finally went right to my site and actually checked things out.It was awesome and I had my siister there and it was first time she had ever seen one.so cool

August 19, 2007 at 1:24 pm #11528

April Flower
Participant

The wolf is by far the hardest to see in the wilderness. It gets my vote.

August 19, 2007 at 3:39 pm #11529

Moondoggy
Participant

I went from never having seen a bear in the wild to seeing three in two back to back weekends. These were three of the most exciting wildlife encounters for me.

August 20, 2007 at 7:56 pm #11530

BirdShooter
Keymaster

Moonpooch, wait ’til you see CC’s photo of that bear. The Camel hasn’t stopped talking about it. I’m still working him for a copy.

August 26, 2007 at 8:37 pm #11531

Guests
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You have to admit that it’s pretty cool to see a rattlesnake coil up, dance the head, rattle the tail, and make you wonder if you are out of striking range.

September 3, 2007 at 11:43 am #11532

TreeFrog
Participant

Saw a moose once in New Hampshire. It was rainy – had been pouring all day – and I wasn’t enjoying the trail that much. After seeing the moose, which was the first time I spotted one from the trail, my entire mood changed. I didn’t mind hiking in the rain anymore that day.

January 9, 2008 at 7:32 pm #11533

RB83
Participant

I once saw a family of five otters feeding in a spring during a morning run at a park in southern Missouri. Very cool!

April 25, 2008 at 4:38 pm #11534

Guests
Participant

Folks, We don’t have moose or grizzlies where I live, and I personally don’t think there is anything cool about rattlesnakes (although they are very tasty). Furthermore, wolves have only recently been reintroduced in my area, so sightings are very rare. My vote for the coolest animal to see in the woods is the Mountain Lion, known in some places as the cougar. We have the highest concentration of mountain lions in America here in New Mexico, and some of these cats are 200 pounds or so. To catch a big cat against the skyline at dawn is nature as its finest

August 28, 2008 at 3:47 am #11535

Lenny
Participant

Hey all,

down here in Florida I often see feral hogs, deer, turkeys, never seen a bear but plenty of scat at times at Ocala National Forest, also just saw a gator on a dry trail yesterday while on a local day hike. It was about 75 yds from water on either side of the trail. I almost never see diamondbacks although I know they are there. Cottonmounths seem less shy and see them much more often.

I would like to see a black bear while hiking!
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