A regular visitor

It was quite early - but as you can see from the photo the sun was up and this fat critter should not have been out and about.

While I took this photo of Mrs. Raccoon, (I'm pretty sure it was a missus) in the early days of June, she hasn't returned - at least not during the day. This was the last time we saw her. You can sort of see by the reddish cast to her fur that she was a most unusual colour - no that's not my camera... occasionally I'd see her at night and shine the light on her back - red as a fox. Even the rings on her tail are a lovely burgundy-brown, not black.

The dogs found another raccoon early one evening last week when we were on a stroll through the pasture. They're barking put it up a tree I'm sure, or perhaps it smelled the boys before they arrived on the scene and it beat it for safety, not knowing they are contained by Invisible Fence and it was on the other side of that barrier. That particular tree was a young  silver maple and not all that sturdy looking so I figure it was very happy when I left our walk early with Spirit walking reluctantly beside me. Bliss followed after he realized we'd abandoned him. 

But last night that raccoon returned, or one similar in age and appearance not the red one. It sang away to itself as it picked up sunflower seeds from under the tree where I hang the small silo feeder for the little birds to watch them as I work at my computer. 

It ignored the dogs... but I couldn't stand Bliss banging at the deck doors and barking so I finally opened the window and saw it. (I'd done this two or three times up till then but not seen the critter - hiding under the deck I suppose.)

I keep a supply of old dog bones in the guest bedroom. I know, I know - that sounds bizarre but they're perfect for tossing at the raccoons. My aim didn't use to be very good, but this time bingo - hit him/it (I must tell you I haven't a lot of strength behind my throw - so it startles them rather than hurts them.) 

Of course my intention was to have it run away, which often they do. Not this one - it was up the tree in a flash. I tried again, hit it again, but that just impelled it higher, not down the tree and away. Quietly cursing myself for not leaving it after one bone, I shut the window and went back to bed. 

About half an hour later I heard more barking and pounding at the door. 

I looked out with my trusty flashlight, and the raccoon was headed facing down, towards the ground. It stopped and peered at me when I shone the light in its eyes... (wonder what it thinks when this bright "eye" stares in its eyes? 

I crooned to it. "That's right go...go on, go!" I gently urged. Using a pleasant voice rather than the angry, thoroughly annoyed one I felt like, I continued to talk to it. It started down again then stopped, stared and finally crept head first to reach the ground. It broke for safety, running faster than I thought a raccoon could. 

Finally I could get some sleep.

Raccoons are rarely welcomed around these parts... for me because they mean I must bring the bird feeders in at night or they will be cast on the ground and broken. A nuisance. For the dogs it's another matter all together. It's revenge perhaps for past nose bites and other altercations? Or guarding me against these dreaded monsters. Who knows what is in dogs' minds?

Unfortunately for this story, the raccoon that got away is the only nice ending. Too many babies - little tiny ones, barely able to crawl I'm sure, are ending up as road kill in the past few days... good for the vultures and gulls, but it makes me sad when nature and humankind just don't get along. I don't understand why our species doesn't get it - or many of us don't:  we are all tenants on this planet! We need to respect and accommodate each other as much as possible. 

Bandits

I know that spring really is just around the corner when suddenly in the night the dogs bark and pound on the glass of my deck door.

"Something's out there," they tell me. "It's those bandits - those bad raccoons. We have to get rid of them! Hurry! Let us out!"

Poor creatures coming out of hibernation looking for a free meal.

These robbers search for people's homes - why not? A free meal is much more likely where people are.
This fellow found my friend Sue's deck where there is a lot of bird seed.

I've told you about the dog's adventures with two young raccoons one night, a baby the other, and for the past week one who has made it's bed in the rafters of my drive shed.

While I feel badly for these critters, not finding a lot of their natural food, frogs, insects, crayfish for example, around at this still frosty time of year, I resent their trying to take down my feeders.

The first indication I had that they were awake and wandering was finding my suet feeder high on the branch from which it hung... empty. Licked clean!

I wouldn't worry so much I suppose, except that wherever they spend a lot of time I'm going to find fleas, among other unpleasant things... part of spring clean-up I guess.

Tracks around my home, through the fields where I walk my dogs and stories from friends tell me that these early spring risers are truly out and about now. And spring (yippee) is closer than ever. Several degrees above freezing today. Now, that will be lovely.

A long way from warm temperatures and balmy breezes and I know there will be at least one more big storm to come... but wonderful nonetheless.

Enjoy your day today - hope the sun is out wherever you are! Or you're getting much needed rain if that's the case too.

On guard

Bliss is on guard.

He and Spirit woke me at 6:15 this morning, Spirit not singing the way he usually does, but quite insistently whining. Okay up I get, the dogs go out and suddenly they're barking.

You know when raccoons show up at the end of winter Spring isn't far behind, in the country they don't come out of hibernation in droves - this pair will huddle up the tree in the rain until nightfall - and predate bird feeders, garbage pails, and anything else they can find to fill empty tummies, unless it's going to get milder pretty soon.

Maybe the predictions of three cooler than usual months ahead are true, but the other ones? Early spring? The birds, the insects (I ran into a huge bunch of flying something or others this morning getting this shot) and the critters all say yup maybe so!

Many people, me included are ready for some spring weather.

Again - transition time - but today it's looking a bit more positive.

Here's to a quickly approaching spring!