Bailey’s raccoon

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”:

raccoon

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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3 thoughts on “Bailey’s raccoon”

  1. 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.

    Reply
  2. 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

    Reply
  3. 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.

    Reply

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