Quite the Life (and all in Times New Roman 10pt!)
We’re happy to report Hyacinth and her kits made it through another winter. They woke pretty much on schedule and came for their…umm…dinner?
A bit late for breakfast or lunch.
Unless they’re working 3rd shift.
Which is possible. Raccoons are usually nocturnal. At least around here. Except when they’re preggers and/or nursing. Either one, they come around for a good helping of protein and fat (dog food and peanuts).
We’re happy to be of service.
The Wild gives so much.
Children grow.
It is the nature of things.
Wonderful cliche, that, don’t you think? It is the nature of things? Alternately fatalistic and dismissive. An admixture of “that’s the way it happens” and “big deal.”
I don’t accept fatalism or dismissiveness.
I know they exist. I know other people have them as part of their raison d’etre.
I do not.
Celebrate while you can, that’s me. Live it up. Enjoy. Our moments are precious and few.
Rejoice in the continuation of life. It will not always be there for us to savor.
And in the meantime, our children grow.
My concern?
Who will care for The Wild behind our home when Susan and I pass.
For that matter and due to the construction on the other side of the wood, will there still be wildlife here when Susan and I pass.
I’m reminded of those last few scenes in Silent Running (a classic).
And for now, they ain’t tiny little raccoons no more.
Enjoy.
We are blessed with many children.
Children who do not ask for money, the car, the latest mobile, their own car, vacations in places unknown, …
Peanuts. That’s what our children want.
Peanuts and cookies.
The outside children.
Our inside child wants food and treats.
We yield.
To all.
We have them for such a little while, why not?
Raccoons can be territorial. Especially around kits and food.
We have lots of raccoons and lots of kits.
We promote peaceful dining by putting out enough food for everyone.
The challenge to this rationale is simple; the more food, the more raccoons. The more raccoons, the more food.
Can you say “cycle”?
We’ve had as many as nineteen racoons visiting us at once. It might have been more. A lot.
Officially, we’d call it “a lot.”
All those “a lot of raccoons” got along fine. We had five piles of food distributed a few yards from each other. The various families got along well. It reminded me of that scene in The Godfather where the Five Families got together to discuss business.
Makes me wonder which of the raccoons in our yard is Marlon Brando.
The below video was taken one month after the This Is How It’s Suppose to Be. Not seeing our children for a month during their usual winter-bulking period concerned us. Greatly.
As I’ve mentioned in a few recent Wildlife posts, we’re experiencing loss of habitat on the other side of our woods. We’ve seen an increase in our backyard visitors. All are still healthy (thank the Old Ones) and it concerns us. Two-Legs think they’re the top of the food-chain. They forget when they were the bottom.
Keep the memory. Stay humble.