The Raccoons

While brushing my teeth at 4 am this morning I heard a kit whimpering, whining, whatever it is they do, near the front gate. I also heard what sounded like scratching. I can only guess one of the kits was trying to climb over the privacy fence. I couldn't see from the bathroom window to confirm it though. This is obviously from the new family of raccoons because it was a real ruckus going a moment later because I heard a low sneering sound along with the cries of the kit. Oh the thoughts of a parent when a child has gotten in a situation that they have to help them get out of.

 

Well, Friday, no early Saturday morning, 3 am, the raccoons were at it. I am so sick of these deep-in-sleep awakenings--again. So today after our trek to the flea market my widowed son and I set up my chainsaw to cut down all that we could some of the trees in the backyard next door along the fence until the chain came off. He cut them down close to the ground and I pulled them as far away from the fence as I could. Next, CP application. A double whammy for them.

 

I wonder if that's a brother from another mother in the background.

 

Now, John B. I am holding back saying anything negative about these photos of a raccoon. Rare but not endangered and lucky because it's protected for being out of its natural habitat e.g. in the wild.

 

I guess I am kind of shallow cuz I think that critter is freaky looking!
Daughter saw a dark line cutting through the hay field and figured it out to be a mother raccoon leading three babies across. I hope they go over the railroad tracks and keep going. I just trapped a few baby possums that had eaten some of my chicks.

 

Update on the double whammy almost a week ago. Oh and I finally found a word that describes how those raccoons sound.

A couple of nights later I heard 'snarling' snarling(of an animal such as a dog or a raccoon) make an aggressive growl with bared teeth. Surprise!!!

The next night I heard a kit whining. Surprise!!!!

Then it rained the next day. So the routine will be CP down after it rains until winter. I NEED TO STOCK UP.

 

I hope I'm not speaking too soon when I say that I have not seen or heard any raccoons since my last post though I did see a deceased one in the middle of the street last week. I didn't see any black tire marks so I'm guessing it was intentional to run it over.

 

My security camera catches two big raccoons moseying through my yard pretty regular. I also had a momma raccoon and her babies( I think I counted 7) pass through my yard to go to the neighbors small outdoor building. I saw them crawl right up the side and into the building. They had open eaves on their shed and they went right on in!

 

That's their home. I wonder if your neighbors know.

 

I noticed they recently had a new roof put on the little oudoor shed and enclosed the opened eaves. Those racoons are a pain!

 

!!!!!!!! I hear them snarling next door!!!

 

They usually shelter under my barnhouse in the winter if not trapped. It is a bit scary if you don't know they are there (or what they are, if you are new) to hear them snarling for space occasionally.