Lovely captures, Neil. They really highlight the depth of the animal’s eyes. Maybe I’m just not looking hard enough or distracted by your wonderful poetry and photography but I couldn’t see what it was making noises at! It’s always special to find a raccoon on a tree. I shared a poem I wrote about finding one a while back. Great last line about the old tree giving other forms of life a chance to grow old as well.
Thanks James and much appreciated. Haha, another hint: this adult raccoon is a mother...the old tree is her home...someone just barely seen at the 'entrance' ;)
Excellent hint! That confirms a thing I barely noticed but told myself, “no that can’t be”—but turns out it can! Thank you for your words and pictures and your invitation to start the day by looking closely.
I've encountered them several times, late night after 1am in my backyard, and have been hissed at twice. Both times the adult raccoon had her babies in trail and they obediently climbed a tree in response. I think the hiss was at me, the click was directed at her babies. Raccoons are formidable animals and best to keep a distance.
Same experience Michael! I think this mother was doing the same as your experience. I too keep my distance from them. I like to observe them go about their natural behaviour with minimal interference.
We keep several "ponds" in our backyard which have water in them for the use of birds and thirsty critters. During dry spells they get a lot of use by birds in the daylight hours and sometimes by raccoons at night. So far this summer I have only seen one raccoon which is okay by me! I just came back from a late night yard walk and nobody was out there but me.
Our house is near a large forest and we have see, deers, coyotes, in our street. But no bears. One time I encountered a year old cougar on my steps late at night. I looked at it. It looked at me, then turned and dashed off across the street. It looked terribly emaciated. It was that summer of 2021 and we were having the heat anomaly. The young cougar maY have been trying to access our backyard water, I hope it made it through.
I don't know who was more surprised, me or the cougar! Back in the days I was trail running in our lovely but deep and dark Oregon forests, slow runners like me were called "cougar bait" since we were always in the back of the pack. Cougars had chase reflexes, and it was humorously suggested they would pick off us old and infirm herd laggards!
I had guessed she might be a mother but now will take a better look. Cute raccoons of various sizes live under our house and often come quite close to remind me of handouts. They provide entertainment to us all but our three cats enjoy the jumpy tail of our one white squirrel through the big glass door most of all. Hope you get a photo of the mom’s babe sometime!
Wonderful post, Neil. The poem really sets up the intriguing mystery and the photos prove the power of old growth and decay as a habitat! I see a small face in the tree cavity, I do believe.:)
Hmmm, something inside the hollow? Raccoons are so super-cute! We have a couple of frequent visitors who clean up the day's birdseed droppings. I never get tired of seeing their furry faces.
"For the old tree offers new life a chance to grow old too." So true & so beautiful.
Lovely captures, Neil. They really highlight the depth of the animal’s eyes. Maybe I’m just not looking hard enough or distracted by your wonderful poetry and photography but I couldn’t see what it was making noises at! It’s always special to find a raccoon on a tree. I shared a poem I wrote about finding one a while back. Great last line about the old tree giving other forms of life a chance to grow old as well.
Thanks James and much appreciated. Haha, another hint: this adult raccoon is a mother...the old tree is her home...someone just barely seen at the 'entrance' ;)
Excellent hint! That confirms a thing I barely noticed but told myself, “no that can’t be”—but turns out it can! Thank you for your words and pictures and your invitation to start the day by looking closely.
I've encountered them several times, late night after 1am in my backyard, and have been hissed at twice. Both times the adult raccoon had her babies in trail and they obediently climbed a tree in response. I think the hiss was at me, the click was directed at her babies. Raccoons are formidable animals and best to keep a distance.
Same experience Michael! I think this mother was doing the same as your experience. I too keep my distance from them. I like to observe them go about their natural behaviour with minimal interference.
We keep several "ponds" in our backyard which have water in them for the use of birds and thirsty critters. During dry spells they get a lot of use by birds in the daylight hours and sometimes by raccoons at night. So far this summer I have only seen one raccoon which is okay by me! I just came back from a late night yard walk and nobody was out there but me.
Our house is near a large forest and we have see, deers, coyotes, in our street. But no bears. One time I encountered a year old cougar on my steps late at night. I looked at it. It looked at me, then turned and dashed off across the street. It looked terribly emaciated. It was that summer of 2021 and we were having the heat anomaly. The young cougar maY have been trying to access our backyard water, I hope it made it through.
That cougar encounter sounds amazing! I have yet to see one in the wild.
I don't know who was more surprised, me or the cougar! Back in the days I was trail running in our lovely but deep and dark Oregon forests, slow runners like me were called "cougar bait" since we were always in the back of the pack. Cougars had chase reflexes, and it was humorously suggested they would pick off us old and infirm herd laggards!
Beautiful photos: eyes are quite expressive.
Thanks Perry and agreed.
Charming animals I liked the poem too
Thanks Janoskar and much appreciated!
I had guessed she might be a mother but now will take a better look. Cute raccoons of various sizes live under our house and often come quite close to remind me of handouts. They provide entertainment to us all but our three cats enjoy the jumpy tail of our one white squirrel through the big glass door most of all. Hope you get a photo of the mom’s babe sometime!
Thanks Connie and an awesome experience!
That’s a nice last line! Plz let me know how/where to be sure I’m surprised!
Thanks Connie. I would suggest looking at the entrance home of that tree trunk...lower right along the edge of the hole in the tree. ;)
I see a little face. Peekaboo! Lovely pics and poem.
Thanks Lindsay and great eye! :)
I love the third line of your poem, “for the old tree offers new life the chance to grow old too”
Thanks Emma and much appreciated.
It took me a minute! I thought it was a 🦇! Grin. Lovely poem! The photos make you feel as though you are right there-experiencing the moment.
Thanks Wendy and great catch! :)
Wonderful post, Neil. The poem really sets up the intriguing mystery and the photos prove the power of old growth and decay as a habitat! I see a small face in the tree cavity, I do believe.:)
Thanks Heidi and good eyes! ;)
Love this! So sweet.
Thanks Palmisanocj!
Hmmm, something inside the hollow? Raccoons are so super-cute! We have a couple of frequent visitors who clean up the day's birdseed droppings. I never get tired of seeing their furry faces.
"For the old tree offers new life a chance to grow old too." So true & so beautiful.
Good catch Sydney! Same, here I always stop ans smile when I see raccoons. I get a sense of intelligence and spirit behind their eyes. :)
Absolutely. I’m pretty sure by the look that they give me that our raccoons are smarter than me, but also super-patient with me 🤣