Most of us that grew up with an outdoor family have been hiking, motor cross, snowmobiling and camping. I have had the luxury of doing all of it. I used to love camping. Of course, as life goes on, we buy the luxuries of camping, even a bed off the ground. That's not camping but a hotel stay, but we still do it. Anyone who extremes hiking or camping has encountered a moment with an animal you cannot trust. I have encountered a cougar in the Appellation Mountains in North Carolina. 

When I first saw the animal, I thought it was a giant raccoon until it leaped up in the air. That's when I almost shit, not crap my pants. Scared the living hell out of me standing there as it jumped from the ground into a tree, then turned to look directly at me with my two children. I told the kids to walk back to their mother while I stayed there staring at the giant cat. I was shaking to know end and nervous as hell for my kids. My eldest was 11, with my son six years old. I was scared for him being the cat's next meal. I backed up slowly until I yelled for everyone to run to the car. We left that night and never camped there again. LOL! This story is about animals' territory and how humans may have no idea if we ever enter their grounds which they hold very dearly as their own. Not to mention a food source. Animals are not human and will fight to the death over food. I hope it never comes to that in our own lives.