January 26th: Our large pool barren backyard is both a playground and natural food source for raccoons, in fact I’m not sure which did greater damage to our yard last year, water restrictions or raccoons. While we don’t encourage them by leaving food out, we do accept their presence. The grass is already in bad shape and really, have you seen a raccoon? It’s impossible to oust such a cute critter and when I try, I get caught up in the hilarity of their antics.
In winter it quiets down. The raccoons sleep more and with windows closed to the cold their visits usually go undetected. But last night around 8:30 pm I heard the distinct sound of raccoons. I peered out the window. It was too dark to see where they were or what they were doing, so in one of my half-hearted attempts to chase them away I got a flashlight and went outside. And there they were, two raccoons in the middle of the lawn, doing the nasty. They froze in the glare of my flashlight and stared as if to say really? you’re going to interrupt us now? we’re not quite finished here, do you mind? And I’m replying out loud really? you have to do this here? now?
Afterwards I told my husband I’m never going into the backyard without a camera. Taking pictures of everything we see and do has become instinctive after all and one never knows when a photo might be needed for something like….this blog. My husband laughed and asked why, was I planning to make raccoon porn?
You might ask where the thankfulness is in this story since the outcome will be more raccoons to tear up the yard this summer. But I am a light-hearted, easily amused person who loves animals and I can’t help but think that Mother Nature has played a joke on me. So what I am thankful for is the laugh it gives me, my husband, and everyone else I tell the story too.
As for the two to five baby raccoons that will be here in 65 days? Stay tuned.
For more raccoon antics http://musadelamariposa.com/2015/09/16/training-exercises/
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