I’ve seen the squirrels’ hiding place,
Beneath this pile of logs,
They stash their nuts and cones in there,
While watching out for dogs.
It’s not that Emma eats their food,
She’s picky what she eats,
But squirrels are safer for the fence,
So they won’t be her treats.
I think I smell some hazelnuts,
Still buried under here,
If I could find a few of them,
I’d be a ‘coon of cheer.
But there’s that snooping dog again,
Alerting everyone,
Time for me to take a hike,
And come back later on.
You’ve heard of cowards turning tail,
They show their other end,
I’m not a chicken, but I just
Have no more time to spend.
May 25, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Raccoons can be nasty. They don’t come around here as often as by you, but I don’t like them to at all.
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May 25, 2023 at 3:15 pm
They look sweet, but we are careful to avoid them connecting with Emma.
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May 25, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Coons are very mean critters, be careful, Anneli. I’m surprised to see this one out and about in daylight. Emma is so cute! 🥰
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May 25, 2023 at 3:26 pm
I’m sure they are cuddly to each other but they are ferocious when threatened, so yes, we are careful to keep Emma away from them. When I took these pictures, I had heard Emma barking and went out to bring her in when I saw the raccoon she was barking. Definitely it could be bad for her if the raccoon was cornered by her.
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May 25, 2023 at 4:34 pm
That would end badly. 😭
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May 25, 2023 at 5:15 pm
Yup!
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May 25, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Bravo!!
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May 25, 2023 at 3:24 pm
Thanks, Suzanne.
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May 25, 2023 at 2:44 pm
This is wonderful! Made me smile.
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May 25, 2023 at 3:27 pm
Thanks a lot, Cindy.
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May 25, 2023 at 3:31 pm
Nature is a marvel Anneli. We only have to take the time to look. Hope your day is going well. Allan
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May 25, 2023 at 4:04 pm
You too, Allan. Thanks.
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May 25, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Brilliant! Love the flow of this. I used to have a dog named Emma too. 😊
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May 25, 2023 at 9:36 pm
Thanks, Michelle. Emma is popular these days but each Emma is special. A lady down the road from here named her dog Emma and called her Em when she wanted her to come. She also used to clap her hands four times to get the dog to come, rather than scream or blow whistles and disturb everyone, so I tried to follow her lead and it works great (except I call mine Emma – not
Em).
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May 25, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Lovely poem and pics!
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May 25, 2023 at 5:15 pm
Thanks a lot, Tone.
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May 25, 2023 at 5:11 pm
I do love the raccoons, although I don’t have pets to worry about when they’re around. They’re clever as can be, and cute, but it’s true that when they set their raccoon minds on something, there’s little that will dissuade them. I never would corner one, or attempt to take action against one, without having several backup plans and some help!
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May 25, 2023 at 5:16 pm
A friend of mine lost her Scottie dog to a raccoon so I have a healthy respect for these guys.
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May 25, 2023 at 5:18 pm
My heavens. I’ve never heard of a raccoon doing that. Now, alligators? I know more than a few people who’ve lost their dogs to those.
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May 25, 2023 at 7:10 pm
The raccoon was in the doghouse in a chainlink kennel and the people put their dog in the kennel (not knowing the raccoon was in there). By the time they got the dog out it had been bitten in the face, in the sinuses. It took a while (maybe a couple of weeks – can’t remember) and the festering didn’t stop. Sad end for the poor little dog.
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May 25, 2023 at 6:09 pm
I’ve only seen raccoons at a distance. They might be nasty close to home but they sure are photogenic. Sweet poem.
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May 25, 2023 at 7:10 pm
They are a contradiction all right. Look so sweet, but it ends there.
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May 25, 2023 at 8:47 pm
That’s a great poem and your video is a great capture, too. Raccoons are so smart, but very aggressive. Best to keep cute little Emma inside.
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May 25, 2023 at 9:22 pm
We really keep an eye on her, and she is never let out to run loose in our yard at night, but now these raccoons are getting brazen and visiting us in the daytime. I don’t like it and will have to be extra vigilant. But thanks, Lynette. Glad you liked the poem and video.
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May 26, 2023 at 12:23 am
Raccoons can be difficult to dissuade from entering your yard. My dad used to shoot at them with an air rifle (this was many years ago; he lived just outside Victoria) if they came into his yard during the day. I don’t think he ever hit one (or intended to) but the noise tended to scare them off. I used to roll my eyes and tease him about being a bored retiree, but the raccoons were sometimes a serious problem. One time they got into his garden shed and really made a mess in there.
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May 26, 2023 at 4:00 am
When they get too tame, they become a real danger to pets and people. It doesn’t help that some people feed them.
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May 26, 2023 at 12:20 am
I hope your dog is safe from these creatures.
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May 26, 2023 at 3:59 am
Thanks, Arlene. We really try to keep an eye on her.
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May 26, 2023 at 12:49 am
Very good pictures and a nice poem. I hate racoons, they can be very dangerous for Emma.
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May 26, 2023 at 4:00 am
Yes, I know what you mean. They are cute but I would gladly do without them.
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May 26, 2023 at 2:01 pm
Amazing!
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May 26, 2023 at 6:59 pm
I hope Emma stays safe, Anneli. I love your poem, and your photos and video are amazing. As cute as raccoons are, they can be mean.
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May 27, 2023 at 9:02 am
The raccoons are just defending themselves. I don’t think they purposely go looking for trouble, but they definitely are a problem and I wish they would go away. Thanks, Lauren. Glad you liked the post.
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May 27, 2023 at 4:27 am
Such a fun poem, Anneli!
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May 27, 2023 at 10:20 am
Thanks, Jennie.
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May 27, 2023 at 5:42 pm
You are welcome, Anneli.
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May 27, 2023 at 5:34 pm
Raccoons can definitely cause trouble. We had them up in densely populated New Jersey and they used to pry open our metal trash cans and dump all the contents out.
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May 27, 2023 at 8:41 pm
I’ve had that happen here at our house too.
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May 29, 2023 at 8:58 am
Love walk through your yard, Anneli. I love the curiosity in your dog’s face.
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May 29, 2023 at 8:31 pm
Thanks, Jacqui. There’s always something to see or hear.
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May 31, 2023 at 2:05 pm
We love sharing our yard too, Anneli, and little by little everyone gets names. Lol. We have Friskey, Chipper, and Rocky so far.
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May 31, 2023 at 2:37 pm
LOL. We do the same thing. Years ago we had a deer that was blind in one eye. We called her Blind Chitlin and she ended up having a fawn. She felt quite at home here.
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May 31, 2023 at 2:44 pm
Awww. I love that.
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