Here in Snake Valley the only sounds I hear close-by in the pitch black while observing are horses or sheep farting, and the sound of them walking on the grass.
Distant sounds are more chilling though as I sometimes hear Koalas and Possums growling and it sounds like a close-up wild dog.
Once, when living in Enfield (in the country south of Ballarat) I heard a sniffle right next to my ear. I turned fast towards the sound and hit noses with a Kangaroo smelling me and it scared the crappers out of both of us
But the worst stories I hear about are from the Americans I talk to nightly.
Many of them go out observing with Firearms!
One guys back fence of his property is on the Mexican Border and he sees the Mexicans running across his property atleast once a week, and at night whilst observing he can swear he hears them creeping around near him. He sees their footprints in the dirt the next day in the daylight
and Lee who said he goes out to a nice quiet spot for the darker sky and has been shot at on several occasions!
Another one who got mugged while Imaging in a dark spot away from all population!
Another one (the one we worry about the most) is Carol, an elderly lady living on her own out in wilds of Montana with no neighbours within miles.
She often gets Bears while she is observing and has to rapidly pack up and lock herself inside with Shotgun in hand.
Lately she has had a Mountain Lion hanging around and she has a new little puppy to keep her company and she said that observing is a real scarey thing knowing the Lion is around and could get her puppy or her.
We have Spiders and snakes, Labradors and Kangaroos. They get Bears, Rattlers, Mountain Lions, Moose, Muggers and Mexican illegals
