Bailey, our 10-year-old, slightly hyperactive springer spaniel mix, started raising hell about 5:00 this morning. This is infrequent but not unheard of, and I figured he was expressing his dissatisfaction with a roofer, approximately 700 of whom have been in the neighborhood at any given moment since April’s hailstorm.
Lea found the actual cause late this morning. Bailey had treed (guttered?) a juvenile raccoon.
Now when she was telling me about it on the telephone, I conjured a mental image of a sprightly young critter, sitting comfortably and taking it all in, gazing below with that wonderfully expressive face. As you can see, the reality was more like “crammed in a hole for six hours, safe for the moment, and please God make it stop”:
Poor thing. We’ve all had those days.
So Lea put the dogs up, and an hour or so later, the raccoon was gone. Godspeed, buddy.
(And just for the record: I know they’re adorable, intelligent, and all that, but raccoons are seriously vicious little bastards when they feel threatened, which is going to be a lot of the time when in close proximity to a human being. Don’t mess with them. A wide berth is indicated.)
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Hee Hee! That pic is great! I sympathize with the coon, but I also agree with what you said, Bo. Those are some nasty buggers, and he/she might have been able to do some serious harm to Bailey.
Fix the dog a steak.
Dear Friends – please know that raccoons are anything but seriously vicious or nasty buggers – living in the woods, raccoons make frequent visits through the dog door seeking food; when that happens my blind, diabetic cat delights in touching noses with them and making friends – even mothers with babies will flee when approached by humans – the myths surrounding raccoons are numerous and ill deserved – if you’re lucky enough to see one, step back and observe- you will be treated to delightful antics by one of the world’s more intelligent animals. Peace, Arlene
Arlene: Welcome!
I’ve seen raccoons behave as you describe, when they have become accustomed to the people/animals (usually an effort greatly lubricated by food).
But note that I said “when they feel threatened.” I’ve also surprised a raccoon going through the trash, and experienced hissing with teeth bared, swiping at the air directly in front of it. Escape routes were obvious and numerous.
I don’t think making friends with raccoons is a good idea. They remain wild animals, and that means they remain unpredictable.