Lacking a pet when we come here in the summer, I try to entice "little ones" to my back door. Each evening I set out bacon-laced dog food (and fish scraps) and wait... We have a neighborhood cat who spends the first couple of hours here, but we have to be more patient for the raccoons. I wedged the door slightly open, set up a tripod so the door would swing past it, and even arranged an "alarm". I set an empty pot atop the food dish, and the clatter alerts me to an arrival. This one was tentative about my presence, but the food was too enticing.to resist. "She's" here often, but this is my first good photograph of her.
Like telling you about "The One that Got Away", there was a mother and three young ones on the deck last night! I wasn't really prepared for their arrival, and with all their scurrying, my pictures were something of a blur...but a delight to watch!
I'm still making videos to put on youtube...made one for my grand sons, but I had a little fun with the running commentary. It's here if you're interested... Okay...I'm easily entertained!
My father, who lived in the country, was a sucker for raccoons too and always left scraps for them. Until one expectant mom came through the doggy door and set up a nursery in his basement. She didn't leave til the babies were old enough to be on their own. She survived by sneaking up to the kitchen and cleaning out the cat's dry food dish every night. My father wondered why the cat was so thin and stressed!
@allie912 I was so delighted to see your comment that I immediately sent it to about a half dozen friends! Yours is a cautionary tale I should heed since I've been leaving the door slightly ajar so I can peek out without making noise!
@digitalrn The one in this photo wished I would go away...you can tell those things! But Bubbers...the first time we saw him, he came up on the porch as were were sitting out there, and he's not disturbed by us at all...as you could see!
Okay, I just watched your Bubbers video ALL the way through. I have to admit that when it comes to small, cuddly(?) creatures, I'm just as easily entertained as you. What a cutie! So what DOES he do when you're not there to feed him his nightly feast? I felt terribly guilty about not being here last week to put out bird seed for my bird friends, chipmunks, squirrels and the like. However, other than the birds, the crew has been particularly destructive this summer, digging holes, chewing on trees, and ripping through screens, so perhaps it's for the best that they get used to being wildlife again and don't rely on me for sustenance. Hmmmmm. Of course, that's not much fun, is it?
