Never go into the woods alone unless you have a death wish or desire to be haunted by the ghost of wildlife. At least, that's what I gathered from Chris McCandless ala Into The Wild, and pretty much any thriller than involves a character who explores the wilderness solo.
Even the most experienced hikers and wild life workers can be blindsided by the sheer creepiness of a rural presence, whether it takes the shape of a predator animal or a fresh dead body.
TL;DR: Was out in the mountains for four days by myself. Felt like I was being followed over 30+ miles. First night I slept not in my tent; it was destroyed and cut to pieces.
On a two week solo backpacking trip I had four days in seclusion between Ranger Station check ins. On the first day of the seclusion; I felt like I was being stalked. As I lay in my tent that night I could hear what sounded to me like footsteps around my camp but never coming too close. In the morning I checked all around and found no evidence of footprints or having any wild life around me.