Category: WildLife

Reasonably Cautious Raccoons

I mentioned last week the joy of dining with friends.

This week we continue that theme with a note of caution.

Behold some reasonably cautious raccoons.

Reasonably cautious because in addition to Opossum, Skunk, Owls, and assorted other fine citizens, we have a family of Coyote who visit.

We don’t mind them. They’re quite beautiful and gracious creatures.

Chatty, in fact.

And they love a good gnosh.

We simply endeavor to ensure their gnosh, while they share our space, isn’t someone else coming by for a little gnosh.

(no one likes it when the kids fight at the table…)

 

Dining with Friends

Anybody remember going out with friends pre-covid? Getting together, everybody around a big table, the restaurant had to move things around so everybody could sit together, sometimes they’d even put us all in a separate room so our laughter wouldn’t disturb the other patrons?

Gosh, those were the days.

We’ve just begun to do that again. With a few, select friends, of course.

Not so in The Wild. Here friendships, when made across species, last forever.

Or at least while food resources are available to support group dining.

But even when resources diminish, we rarely hear squabbles, rarely witness arguments and aggressive, assertive discussions.

Most often they’ll snatch and grab, take what they can immediately get and run away.

It may not fill their bellies, and it will get them to the next opportunity.

When perhaps they can share again.

Any Two-Legs listening?

 

Matchmaking in Opieville

Long, long, oh, ever so long ago, I routinely gathered with friends to play music. One time and for no reason, I started playing America’s Muskrat Love except I changed the words to something far from the original.

People laughed, held their bellies, rolled on the floor, had tears coming of their eyes, gasped for breath, those with instruments put them down, …

It was a glorious time.

I remembered that on this night.

Two Opossum, dancing in the moonlight, doing it up and doing it right.

Or at least not arguing with each other.

Much.

 

A Three Cookie Night (with peanuts)

Last week I shared Everyone should have cookies and peanuts on a cold winter’s night and that the raccoons are about.

Here’s another example from the next night on the calendar. This young lady is unknown to me (she does share her name as the days roll on) and is quite healthy.

Note also she hasn’t kitted yet (she’s still with child, as they say, although with raccoons it’s more like “with children.”

And it’s a three cookie plus peanuts night for this young lass.

We did notice at the end of last season and as this year grew our local raccoons had acquired a sweet tooth. Nothing extravagant, and their dietary desires are most often ruled by reproductive and milk-producing needs, so we’re not concerned.

But it is fun to watch.

 

Everyone should have cookies and peanuts on a cold winter’s night

People in the southern hemisphere will appreciate this post’s title, people in the northern hemisphere, know this video was shot on 22 Jan 2022, ie, a cold winter’s night.

Although it couldn’t have been too cold because the raccoons were out.

Raccoons don’t hibernate so much as they go dormant, lethargic, and prefer to cuddle up together into little fur balls until warmer – around 30°F or higher – temperatures come.

We get inklings when they’re about.

Sometimes a rustling late at night.

Often little footprints in the snow.

Or, as is the case with our local raccoons, a pounding on the door and a harsh demand, “Yo! Two-Legs! Starving raccoons out here!”

And so we do what we can.

To keep the peace.

It’s a good thing.