It was crisp and cool with a gentle breeze – a beautiful fall day, a great day to be walking in the Big Woods. And that's where I was, slowly making my way along when, about 20 feet ahead of me there was a patch of moving fur. The fur turned out to be a raccoon that was twisting and turning as it groomed itself –
Apparently the raccoon hadn't seen or heard me (dressed in full camouflage) walking toward it, but it soon realized something was wrong and began walking away –
Then it turned and headed straight my way –
Raccoons in broad daylight are a reason for caution since they're normally nocturnal and raccoons acting out of character are sometimes ill. Because raccoons are frequent carriers of the rabies virus (which is fatal to humans), I backed away as the raccoon approached. Seeing my movement, the raccoon veered to the side and headed for a tree. It passed up several large oaks and began to climb a small red maple –
Up and up it went until finally settling where a small limb branched off the tree's main stem –
There it appeared to go to sleep –
Was the raccoon sick with rabies or, more likely, canine distemper, some other disease or just plain tired?
I think it was just tired!
ReplyDeleteI have occasionally seen them out in the day time here.
ReplyDeleteBut it is odd.
They are beautiful animals.
Our raccoons are out in the day all the time, here.
ReplyDeleteWe've no rabies here, which is good for us.
That was a walk worth taking...but then, aren't they all. I love that you brought home such wonderful pictures of the raccoon. We see these adorable little critters often out and about by day. It all depends on what food is available. When army worms are in the fields, day or night, so are the raccoons.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThey are cute critters, great photos. I would keep a good distance from them, you never know if it is sick. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day. Have a great weekend.
Hello. It looks like such a sweet animal. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteI think raccoons do as they please, as they don't know how to read what is written about them ;) People say the same thing about skunks, yet one summer at a park, we had the privilege of daytimes visits of a spotted skunk foraging for food all throughout the summer before it gave up the ghost to old age.
ReplyDeleteHello, I hopped to you from the Furry Gnome, and love your stills and video. Possum what a laugh to see it carrying the dry bedding, hope it made it to his winter home.They are a pest down here in New Zealand, and not as pretty as your racoons, that was such a pretty face on the tree.
ReplyDelete