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[solarbird]

I finally got a picture of one of those raccoons.

I went outside to go take some pictures of the Tektronics workstation I'm trying to get rid of (want it? eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2046715775 - I don't expect any bids and am hoping somebody local pays a dollar for it at the last minute so they can come pick it up) and wow! there were two raccoons on porch this time. These are much smaller than the other two, and both have their tails - I think they're yearlings or juveniles or whatever the right word for not-fully-grown raccoons would be. They fled, of course. I tried to get a picture right then, but the *#@&$(@$!! camera wouldn't flash - it was still charging - and so wouldn't shoot a picture at all.

So I went out to the carriage house and took the pictures of the workstation, and on the way back, I hear a noise to my left; I stop, then one of the raccoons runs across the path about 10 feet front of me (from the right to the left - apparently they separated). I walked up to where it had run and looked where it was going, but couldn't see anything, but I heard a noise over in the corner by the carriage house, and shot the camera into the dark, getting this:



I was pretty sure I'd gotten a picture of some kind 'cause I saw its eyes reflect the flash. ^_^

This is not actually a night-vision camera or anything, it's just really lame, and anything dim comes out green. I shot into the dark again and got this:



Neither picture is very good, but at least you can see the beastie. I have a third shot where it's climbed up into the tree, but all you can really see there is a pair of eyes so I'm not posting it.

I'm wondering whether I should put up screen doors on the porch, to see whether that'll keep the raccoons out.

Comments

[chrysoula.livejournal.com]

I find raccoons hopelessly cute. :-)

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

You won't think they're cute when they finally take over. They're just waiting for a human apocalypse so they can take our place.

[banner.livejournal.com]

Just to warn you, Raccoons are very vicious. If you let your cats out, you may wish to stop. Raccoon's also tend to carry some diseases, so make sure any animals you have are current on their shots.

[mamishka.livejournal.com]

I would have prefered it if you had shot them with a nice super painful bb gun rather than a camera. They might be cute, but they make a mess, are eating Cirrus' food, and might also be endangering her life. :-P

In terms of food, I've got a new plan I'm going to try out this evening. Its not a perfect fix, but it might work. Depends on just how crafty those paws can be.

[amethyst-dancer.livejournal.com]

From what I know of raccoons, there is not much limit as to how crafty they can be. And they're very dextrous with those little fingers. Sometimes they even work in groups to accomplish something that one could not do alone.

I got a book recently about living with nature -- includes info on how to appreciate it more, and how to discourage it from being pesky, and what to do if you find something injured or whatever, stuff like that. I'll try to remember to look up raccoons for you.

They're also mentioned in some of my bird-watching books. Many people who feed birds have a problem with squirrels eating the birdseed, and there are all sorts of crafty ways to stop them, most of which don't seem to work. Some people don't mind the squirrels, and feed them deliberately. We've taken that approach, setting up a feeder that's easier for squirrels, chipmunks, blue jays, and (unfortunately) grackles, to discourage them from chasing away all the little songbirds at the main feeder. (Also we fill it with really cheap deer corn from Wal-Mart, so it's not nearly as expensive as the seed we use to lure in those lovely little goldfinches!)

The bird-watching books usually warn after that, that no matter how you feel about feeding squirrels, you should not ever feed raccoons. Partly because they carry diseases more than squirrels, including rabies. Partly because they don't just compete with your birds for seed, but actually EAT the birds and their eggs if they get a chance to. And partly because they're smart little critters, and if you start letting a few of them get food, soon you will have LOTS. Then you really have a problem!