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Old 03-30-2008, 02:09 PM   #1
Sanders
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Default Camping and Critters

I know many of us enjoy camping. Do you bring along your dogs? I never go without mine. But I tie her up outside the tents, and she usually winds up "disappearing" into the girl's tent.

One time we went camping in Cochises Stronghold (Buzgun will know where that is) in SE Arizona. It was a state park campground and wasn't too crowded, as it was an off weekend.

I woke up before dawn to the sound of something eating the dog's dry food (yeah, I know I screwed up and left food out) out of her bowl. At first, I thought the dog was eating, but the crunching was too fast to be a dog. I slowly unzipped my tent and looked out and facing me was the west end of an east-facing skunk.

The skunk was chowing down on the dog's food, just enjoying itself. It hadn't sprayed, so there was no odor around. I looked around for the dog, and saw her rope went inside the girl's tent. I gave thanks for small favors. I stood up and started talking to the skunk. I asked him if he was enjoying that dog food and made sure I didn't make any sudden movements and get him scared enough to cause a "release".

He eventually either got tired of me talking to him, or had eaten his fill, because he looked over his shoulder at me and gave a swish of his tail, then started walking off with his tail in the air - as if daring me to make an attempt to catch him. When he got a little further away, he started into a trot, and then he started bouncing away just like Pepe LePeu in the cartoons until he got into the woodline.

I never had a problem with snakes or other creepy crawlies when camping. Never had any bear or cougar encounters in the campsite (although I did stop leaving ANY food out and lock all food into the cab of the pickup at night).

The biggest problem I've had, have been with two-legged critters. Usually of the mexican variety. But we always seem to come to amicable terms after I go have a little talk with them.
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Old 03-30-2008, 03:16 PM   #2
5knives
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About the only place I wouldn't take a dog along (unless I was hunting) is in Bear country. They have a natural dislike for each other, and one dog doesn't have much of a chance and the bear knows that.

'Course a hungry cougar will go after one dog alone also, but we've never had enough of them in this state for that to matter.

Either way, a well trained dog that will stiay close on command would probably be okay.

But I agree 100% about the 2 legged varmints being the more likely problem and for them a dog is a help.

Early warning RADAR and all.

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