Unexpected Tenant
Q: What’s about the size of a fuzzy brown softball with a head defined by a very pointy nose and beady black eyes?
A: The cutest baby raccoon you’ve ever seen.
He must still be very young – maybe just a few weeks old. We had no idea a coon family was living under our deck when this fuzz-ball boldly lumbered baby-walk-style (only with a decided coon-ish flair) across the yard today. It was most likely his first outing from the confines of the dark-under-deck-world, and he didn’t know to be afraid. At all.
He found a piece of dried-up fishy-looking-something - a perfect pacifier - and headed for a bush with it. I ran for my camera, but no amount of prodding with a stick would bring him out. He didn’t resist the stick or snarl at us, but just sat there happily gnawing his stinky treasure as if of course giants with poking sticks were just part of everyday life. No big deal.
We still haven’t seen mama or any other babies, but assume the rest of the family is being a little more cautious. And so, tonight we must make a decision. To set the trap, or not to set the trap….that is the question.
A few years ago a very fat groundhog announced his presence just as the snow began to fly, and then spent the winter hibernating underneath the deck. Of course I don’t blame critters for hanging out there since our hot tub is recessed and provides a lovely snuggle-up environment in the otherwise harsh Michigan winter. It’s the least we can do.
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