LNC Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 My son had been popping snacks in the air and trying to catch them in his mouth - so they had goldfish crackers littered all about the camp site. I had warned them not to leave food scattered. Anyway, in the middle of the night they heard loud slurping noises for 2 hours. They stayed still inside the tent. My husband could hear it milling about the campsite until it left. He even felt the tarp underneath tugging as it came right up to the tent slurping. He said the slurping sound was very loud - wasn't sure it could be a racoon making all that noise. My kids eventually went to sleep!! What animal do you think would spend 2 hours around one campsite slurping, without disturbing the tent??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Bear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 What regional area were they camping? Raccoon or possum are the most likely culprits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNC Posted July 28, 2012 Author Share Posted July 28, 2012 NC/Virginia border state park. I'm afraid it was a bear, but I'm paranoid. I don't think a bear would hang out for 2 hours for spilled crackers? The slurping sounds were loud. Do racoons and possums slurp loudly? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne_in_TX Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Around here (West Texas), it likely would have been a feral pig, but the slurping would have been accompanied by snorting, and rooting and they come in groups. Bears would probably do me in on camping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 NC/Virginia border state park. I'm afraid it was a bear, but I'm paranoid. I don't think a bear would hang out for 2 hours for spilled crackers? The slurping sounds were loud. Do racoons and possums slurp loudly? :bigear: Well, racoons and possums eat more with their paws, so I'm not sure where the slurping would have come from in that case. Bears do a lot of snuffling on the ground, but I'm not sure it would sound like slurping, though. And bears are pigs, at least from what I've seen around here. If there's food, they'll stick around until it's gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Well, racoons and possums eat more with their paws, so I'm not sure where the slurping would have come from in that case. Bears do a lot of snuffling on the ground, but I'm not sure it would sound like slurping, though. And bears are pigs, at least from what I've seen around here. If there's food, they'll stick around until it's gone. I had a bear go through my garbage...he licked the cottage cheese container clean but left the discarded leftovers strewn all over the sidewalk. I knew my boys didn't like it, but I didn't think it was that bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 NC/Virginia border state park. I'm afraid it was a bear, but I'm paranoid. I don't think a bear would hang out for 2 hours for spilled crackers? The slurping sounds were loud. Do racoons and possums slurp loudly? :bigear: Eeeep! In that area, a bear is a possibility. They'll hang around and eat ANYTHING--including something as nasty as toothpaste :tongue_smilie:. That's why they say not to keep anything in your tent that has a scent. Things like deodorant or lotion. I would think they would have heard more snuffling if it was a bear, than "slurping". I don't know if raccoons slurp, but I still vote raccoon :001_smile:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I had a bear go through my garbage...he licked the cottage cheese container clean but left the discarded leftovers strewn all over the sidewalk. I knew my boys didn't like it, but I didn't think it was that bad! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I think that if were a bear they would have known it. We had a bear spend about a week hanging out on the other side of our fence and could hear a loud growly breathing and huffing sound from it. Did they check for footprints or scat? That is the best way to figure it out. A bear print is pretty distinctive. Was there any liquid it was slurping? In bear country, they need to be more careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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