Bivvying .... ever get unwanted guests?

[Mandicky]

I did bivvy next to a remote car park during the There 'n Back Winter Event. It was lovely and quiet around 10pm when I arrived and settled down for the night. Around 1am I was woken from my slumber by either a) Drug dealers, b) Illegal ravers or c) Doggers. As it was around -4C I decided to stay where I was. I pulled my bivvy (so glad I went camouflage rather than florescent orange) over my head and pretended it was just an episode of The Bill on TV in the next room....Definitely unwanted guests

[Mike]

I did a very wet bivy with Daddy Bearbones in the woods one time and woke up thinking i was dribbling, and low and behold i had a massive slug on my face!

[ootini]

Yep, this thread has convinced me that despite the weight saving that comes from the bivvy / tarp combo I shall always be using a tent.

[cycleofaddiction]

Better not show this thread to the missus as she has an unhealthy fear of slugs, she can't even look at them so she always brings a bag of salt with us and only comes bivvying/wildcamping with me as i've managed to convince her there is no way a slug would ever be able to crawl on to her face in her sleep..drunken dodgy drug dealers in the middle of the night no problem but not slimy slugs ..

[Charliecres]

Was woken by wild boar in the Forest of Dean. One either side of our camp, growling and snorting and crashing about. I was a tad anxious.

[FLV]

Years back when I had a moustache and a mullet

[99percentchimp]

Idaho Rockies - up above the tree line and was woken by something going through my pots (knocking them off a rock 15 yards away)... lying in the tent thinking BEAR but I eventually couldn't stand the not knowing what was out there and realised the double skin nylon protection amounted to nothing, so I emerged to find a porcupine going through my kitchen... it had eaten half a green pot scrubber (and some stuck on porridge oats) managed to send it packing eventually (nothing really seemed to bother it mind) and it ambled off to eat the waist band (salt?) out of someone else's rucksac up the valley - I heard them trying to get rid of it half an hour after it left me

[composite]

I only really remember one occasion and that was owls.

I had decided that an old stone barn in a field was a bit crappy to sleep in and actually it was a nice night so went with just the bivi bag and no tarp. As the light began to fade I thought I saw something white flash out of the barn but paid it no mind. I was in my bag reading my book and started to hear bird calls fairly close. I had done some owl handling only 2 weeks previously so it was all very fresh in mind and I recognised the calls as Barn owls. There were 2 that were clearly hunting in the field and I could see silhouettes swooping about which was very cool.

After a short while I noticed the silhouettes were getting closer and they started swooping in towards me. Not having a go but clearly checking me out.
At first it was a bit disconcerting, they were maybe 20ft away and I felt a bit exposed lying on my back. After a few times of them "hovering" and flying off it was OK though and actually became an vaguely exciting experience. It's one of my fondest memories of bikepacking.

[Joshvegas]

Yep, this thread has convinced me that despite the weight saving that comes from the bivvy / tarp combo I shall always be using a tent.

On the other hand I've woken up to two faint thumps on my chest and ovened my eyes to be greeted by two very inquisitive chaffinches staring back at me.

I then spent fiveminutes watching them fly around and keep returning to eat crumbs out of my hands.

I've watched weasels and dear and obe pinemarten scuttle past.

And I've watched buzzards and kestrels do their thing .

Worth the odd slug.