Early Dinner Guest

 

I don’t think the raccoons have missed more than a couple of meals during the past year that we have been feeding them. There are usually four each night, and an opossum often joins them. However, I haven’t photographed them during the winter because it has just been too dark. One of the little critters cooperated last night by coming an hour early!

 

I love their “sweet” faces, even though we know from experience that they are anything but sweet. They are aggressive, sometimes destructive, and even quite mean to each other. Some people have questioned the fact that we feed them (dog food).We started feeding them in an attempt to keep them out of the garbage cans. That has been quite successful. They still raid the bird feeders, but they were here before we were. And I don’t know if the two things are related, but before we started feeding the raccoons we had nightly visits from skunks. Haven’t seen or smelled one since the raccoons took over the yard.

 

I WILL have to rethink my strawberry bed! It appears that I will not get to eat even one before the critters do!  

I’ve heard of people making pets of squirrels, raccoons, and even skunks. It is not our intention to civilize any of the critters on the hill. The raccoons are fascinating to observe and photograph. But I like the fact that they are still leery of us and if I open a door or make a loud noise most of them will quickly scurry away to the woods. There is one that will linger for a moment and look twice, but even he soon lumbers away.

 

I imagine there will be baby raccoons in another month. Can’t wait to photograph those!

Yes, I do other things besides stand around watching critters out the window. Honest…I do. They are just so darn cute!

 

Hope you enjoy some nature in your neighborhood today!

 

Comments

[Marilyn Crabtree]

Yes, we do love the critters in our yard. And we do put grain out for the turkeys and deer because they keep coming when they know food is around.

[Megan]

I appreciate that you feed them. I think they are darling and my kids love to hear about their antics. I don't pretend to know all the complications of feeding them, but it sure seems easier than cleaning up trash that blows all over the place.

[EpitypeWevy]

a little opt for "good fats", which creating and of best and so are continue to keep a log of what and once you try to eat.


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