23 Comments
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Peter J. Ryan Sabom Nim's avatar

Raccoons are underappreciated.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Agreed, Peter.

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Melissa Lee's avatar

This made me smile so much! You have so many amazing nature encounters :-)

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Melissa and glad you liked this! Funny coincidence seeing this raccoon as normally I hike 3-4 hours earlier in the morning. Happy coincidence that I was glad to encounter. :)

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Melissa Lee's avatar

I love those little moments of nature synchronicity.

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Birds sing, water flows.

What is Raccoon searching for?

Neil thinks it’s treasures.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Beautiful haiku, Marisol.:)

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Leah Rampy's avatar

Persistence embodied. And in the first photo, those eyes! Thank you.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Definitely persistence paying off. Happy to share, Leah.:)

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Neil, an absolutely delightful post this morning. The photos are beautiful. The sijo on spot and the videos are delightful. I read your post while watching the Wild Turkeys out back. A perfect combo.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Pamela and much appreciated! Sounds like you've settled into a nice morning with Nature nearby. :)

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Roberta McKay's avatar

I remember having racoons come right up to our door. We live in a very small town in Montana. I was telling a neighbor how cute they were and her response was, "those darn varmints." I guess what is cute to one is a menace to others. 'Berta

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks for sharing that, 'Berta. I know they can be quite a polarizing species.I like them and they're fascinating to observe and watch their intelligence at work.

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Did he ever find anything after all that searching?

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Neil Barker's avatar

I did see them eat a small morsel of something in the video. :)

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Wonderful photo series of the raccoon, Neil. I'd like to imagine that this is the grown baby who was hidden in the hollow of the tree. I really like seeing the foraging behavior in the water, both eating and hand washing and how the raccoon is so mobile on the stepping stone.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Heidi and much appreciated! I was really fortunate on this encounter as I was hiking several hours later than my usual start time. :)

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

It was fortuitous!

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Marc Mannheimer's avatar

Nice pics! I have a friend out back who hangs out in the dumpster. Very polite. Simply and slowly exits every time I come back to throw out a bag.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Marc! That's great you're able to see one regularly as well.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Oh what a wondrous walking trail you have!! Excellent pictures....and yes there is nowhere to search but within- but that's the hardest thing to do!

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Rajani and I am very fortunate to have this park so nearby. :)

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

I live in a bustling city...all kinds of creatures - wondrous and otherwise...same but different :)

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