So, we've moved. Some of you might have already had the idea. I now officially live with Conan and Garrett. It's really great. I love being able to spend so much time with Conan and he has already strengthened his "assis" and "coucher," and today he learned "pas bouger" with a little bit of leftover CSA lettuce and some marker training. He picked it up so quick I can already turn my back and walk away and he stays.

Oh, the point of this.

Well, we were out on a walk tonight, just doing a random route around the neighborhood. We walked past a bush adjacent to a brick wall in someone's front yard. Conan didn't even try to smell it or anything, we just walked by. But out of nowhere came this snarling, growling, angry noise that came towards Conan and then backed off. I saw the bushes move towards us but nothing came out and nothing got us. I'm pretty sure both of us almost peed ourselves.

This was not a cat. If it was a cat, it was a mountain lion or something, which would not have fit in those bushes. I don't think opossums make that sort of noise, and while my initial thought was Chupacabra, I know he doesn't actually exist (even though he's a legitimate fear of mine, and when I hear scary noises I think of him immediately).

Anyway, the only other animal I can think of is a raccoon. I have no experience with raccoons. This was not a dog snarl, or a cat snarl, it was weird. Do raccoons make that sort of noise? Does this sound like raccoon behavior?

Definitely sounds like El Chupacabra. It's real. Don't kid yourself.

Could've been a coon or opossum. Both will make a hissing noise.

I believe it. I swear every time I wake up in the middle of the night for whatever reason, and I happen to hear a noise, that's instantly what I think of. I don't even know why. It's like my ancestors were hunted by Chupacabras and it's hardwired in my brain to fear them as predators.

But yeah. I know they'll hiss, but do they snarl? It was like a snorty growl, haha.

Fear of El Chupacabra is definitely genetic and not just a learned trait.

Opossums, not so much of a snarl, IME.

Coons, maybe a snarl/growl/scream. Hard to describe. It'd be different if you've never heard one before.

The rest of the house is asleep, or I'd try to find you a soundbite. Check YouTube.

Rent the movie Old Yeller. When Yeller is locked in the corn crib and Arlis opens the door, I believe they used a coon for that sound tract. Sounds like it to me anyway.
I've hunted lots of coon with my terriers and they can be really evil and snarly sounding.
The Chupacabra is a silent killer. You just never know when it's going to attack.....and they always attack from behind.

 Quote: Bob Scott

The Chupacabra is a silent killer. You just never know when it's going to attack.....and they always attack from behind.

So, we can rule out El Chupacabra.

Now every time it's silent I'm going to wonder if I'm being hunted.

I love Old Yeller. I actually thought of the movie when I realized it could have been a raccoon. I instantly thought rabies. I kept thinking that only an animal with rabies would actually make a move at us!

And Bob, that's exactly what it sounded like now that I think of it! A snorty kind of snarl. We'll have to stay away from bushes now. But we can't walk in open view, either. That makes us prime Chupacabra prey. Like a deer in a meadow.

I HATE racoons, actually I am a little afraid of them as they are the only wild animal that has ever been overtly aggressive to me, and multiple times to boot.

Nasty, Mean, and WAY TOO SMART... They make all sorts of scary alien sounds, foxes make wierd sounds too though.

We called the City because we have some giant dog sized coons living in our storm drains and I was worried about rabies.

I was informed they feed them vaccine laced food in order to lessen the risk of rabies. Made me feel marginally better LOL.

Speaking of Chupacabras:
My son is a little bit obssessed with those monster shows on TV, and things like Bigfoot and Modern day sightings of dinosaurs etc.
One day a couple of years ago he came running into the bedroom while I was reading, all flustered and freaked out because he was scared of the Chimichanga. He was going on and on about goats and blood and chimichangas.
It has been a long running joke now every time we go out to eat mexican food or go hiking.

BEWARE THE CHIMICHANGA!

LOL! Jennifer that made my day. That's hilarious. Reminds me of my brother always calling earthquakes "earthquicks." He's 36 now and we still make fun of him. But chimichangas for chupacabras is just too funny!