First it was the dog, growling and barking at me, and now it’s that woman waving her camera around like she’s a journalist and I’m the star of her freak show. I can see the headlines now: Masked Bandit Hides in Tree
Only one thing to do, and that’s go higher and stay put. The woman doesn’t look like she’s much of a climber – not at her age.
Emma, her dog, can jump a few feet, but of course, she can’t climb.
Well … let’s see … what’s the best way to get up here?
I’ll just have a stretch before I climb any higher. Get limbered up before I go up the limbs.
Ouch! I forgot about my owie. Think I scraped it the other night going up a tree in a hurry. Couldn’t really see where I was going and I gave myself a sore arm on one of those broken branches.
Now, where was I? Oh yeah, check out Mrs. Journalist. Yup, she’s still standing there pointing that black thing my way. Well, at least she can’t identify me with my mask on, so I can cause any kind of mischief I want. But I am complying with all the Covid rules – I have my mask on … which is silly, because we’re outdoors in the fresh air.
When will she stop pointing that camera at me?
Sorry, but I’m a bit camera shy.
She’s a brazen one! Still there. Still pointing that gadget at me. Good thing I have a mask on for anonymity as well as for Covid. But still, still, still….
I’d better stay hidden behind the tree. I’ll just peek out now and then to see if she’s gone yet, and to make sure that dog isn’t around.
Reggie Raccoon felt quite brave around noon,
He just couldn’t wait until dark.
Running so hard across Anneli’s yard,
He leaped up the nearest tree’s bark.
Rushing he scrambled, his fate he had gambled,
He came close to losing his tail,
Emma, the jumper, leaped up to his bumper,
It’s lucky her snap was a fail.
September 1, 2021 at 9:17 pm
I know that raccoons can be such a garden problem but they are so cute! And so is Emma with her little feather. Lovely photos, Anneli – such a lift to see.
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September 1, 2021 at 9:19 pm
Thank you, Lynette. I feel the same way about raccoons. So cute but I worry about them tangling with my dog. I think the dog would lose that fight. My friend lost her dog that way. Very sad. I watch Emma carefully.
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September 1, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Yes, where I lived with my last dog there weren’t any raccoons (or squirrels or chipmunks), so I didn’t think of that. No, raccoons are very tough and Emma might not do well. So sorry to hear about your friend and her dog. That’s awful.
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September 1, 2021 at 10:42 pm
Many coons were not so fortunate where I worked.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:22 am
They can get to be a real nuisance. That’s the trouble when animals get used to living near humans.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:23 am
Our standard procedure was to lock and load. a .22 caliber magnum long gun with a scope is the perfect tool to drop them from the trees.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:32 am
Sometimes you have to do that, but I hate to see it. When there are way too many and they start hanging around where people are, this is sometimes the only solution. When people feed them it can cause problems too. Recently a raccoon attacked a woman coming home from walking her dog (on a leash) and raccoons attacked her and her little dog right by her own yard. Her neighbour had been feeding the raccoons.
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September 1, 2021 at 11:35 pm
Love this Anneli.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:22 am
Nice to see you again, Arlene. Glad you liked my raccoon post.
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September 2, 2021 at 12:38 am
They are so cute but also a pest. Very good pictures and a nice little poem!
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September 2, 2021 at 8:24 am
Tnx, Ursula. You’re exactly right. I love seeing the raccoons, but at the same time I hate to see them because of the dog and because of the damage they do to gardens
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September 2, 2021 at 1:41 am
Amazing shots!
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September 2, 2021 at 8:25 am
Tnx, DK. Are you having any flooding just now? Everything okay where you are?
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September 2, 2021 at 1:44 am
Wow! Great shots, Anneli. I know raccoons can be a nuisance, but they sure are cute.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:24 am
Yes, they are both – a cute nuisance.
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September 2, 2021 at 7:08 am
So that’s what a raccoon looks like! Brilliant photos! So cute and the sweetest funny story of its thoughts! Emma looks slightly bereft and confused, bless!
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September 2, 2021 at 8:26 am
I cheated and used a puppy picture of Emma, but being an English cocker, she isn’t that much bigger now that she’s full grown.
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September 2, 2021 at 7:37 am
How very cute. The peeking-out raccoon is perfect. Your puppy–is her ear hurt or just bent awkwardly? She’s darling.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:28 am
Emma’s ears are so long that sometimes when she’s cavorting around, one of them flips over and that’s what you’re seeing now. She’s not hurt. She just has sloppy ears. Thanks for the visit and comment, Jacqui.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:05 am
Great shots, Anneli, and great text! 🙂
I can still remember Sally and Buster sitting under the trees in Karnes City and barking a storm up when there was a raccoon in the tree. Ad I also remember the time when the raccoon literally got scared shitless and dumped the contents of its bowels on the doggies, which were sitting just in the right spot under the tree to be at the receiving end. 😉 And I certainly remember me having had to clean them up. 😀
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September 2, 2021 at 8:29 am
LOL! The raccoon got revenge on the dogs. I bet it was scared though.
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September 2, 2021 at 8:56 am
I bet it was scared.
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September 2, 2021 at 9:11 am
Very nice series of photos. A good thing Emma’s reach is short 😏
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September 2, 2021 at 9:27 am
Yes, it’s a good thing for her!
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September 2, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Anneli, you have outdone yourself with these photos. The last one is stunning as is your header. And Emma looks so innocent and proud. Love the raccoon’s story and of course your verse. Happy Labour Day!
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September 2, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Thanks a lot, Carol. Makes me happy. Have a great weekend yourself.
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September 2, 2021 at 5:39 pm
Wildlife can be aggressive..we have racoons destroying my garden..but they are very photogenic.
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September 2, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Yes, they can be a real nuisance. I’m sorry you’re going through that.
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September 4, 2021 at 10:30 am
I enjoyed this very fun post, Anneli. Your photos of the raccoon are really wonderful, capturing all the features that make a raccoon so beautiful. The dialogue was great fun, too. I’m chuckling here, thinking about the poem, as well. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.
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September 4, 2021 at 12:29 pm
And thank you for taking the time to read it, Jet. Have a great weekend.
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September 6, 2021 at 5:17 am
Fabulous photography, Anneli! Were you worried that Reggie was out and about in the daytime?
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September 6, 2021 at 8:00 am
I was surprised to see him in the daytime. It told me that he was getting too brazen and I had to watch out for Emma during daylight hours as well as when I took her out at night for “last call.” And Reggie’s parents have also been hanging around, so the situation is getting a bit dicey. I saw all three of them together in the yard about a week ago.
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September 6, 2021 at 6:01 pm
Keep an eye out, Anneli.
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September 6, 2021 at 6:06 pm
Thanks, Jennie. I definitely do. I shine the light all around before I let Emma out for last call and that’s always on the leash. So far, so good.
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September 6, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Fingers crossed!
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