After work I walked in Central Park to take some pics. Through the corner of my eye I saw a cat scamper about and up a tree. When I looked around up there, I did not see anything. All of a sudden - this guy - peeps out from behind the tree. What the heck is that - a raccoon? And what's it doing in Central Park NYC? For more wild kingdom NYC version please see album 2: http://365project.org/michaelelliott/more-365/2012-04-20
Thanks so much all for your marvelous reactions to yesterday's midtown pic - so much appreciated as always - TGIF!
For a minute there I thought you were in my city - we have raccoons all over the place here:) Love how he's peeking round the tree at you:) Happy Friday Michael! (Well still Thursday here....)
Great capture, ME ... Nah, it's not NYC. You're right here in the Midwest. LOL Fantastic little guy that you got there. Like the way that the little bandit is checking you out. Welcome to the "world of critters!" :)
@michaelelliott You captured him well, Michael. Yes, he is a raccoon for sure. They look like they are wearing masks. Pretty critters but can be really mean though harmless to humans so if you see any more you are safe. I want to know how you got such a great photo of him so fast.
We get raccoons from time to time. They are one of the few creatures whose original range has expanded because of human activity, mainly because they can survive quite nicely off of human garbage. Coyotes and rats are the others with expanded ranges from their original historical home range.
wonderful capture! We get them in our backyard, although they're basically nocturnal. I get alarmed if I see them in daylight. One night last fall, a young one was at our patio door for a good 30 minutes, puffing up in an encounter (through the glass) with our cats. This is just such a great photo!!!
@webfoot - Thank you Paul for the info :) You all probably think I'm nuts because I'm excited I saw a wild animal other than a mugger in Central Park - haha
@michaelelliott What does that mean "you set the frame fast?" I hold very steady for my animal/critter shots but still have a lot to learn as most of them move fast and I have to be really quick. A lot different than buildings but you are so good at the photos you shoot in NYC.
Fabulous capture, Michael! And this made me laugh. So not a cat, but a very cute raccoon. You not only nail the cityscapes, night shots, but now wildlife? Awesomeness as always.
@darsphotos - I meant that I figure out a good pov, angle and composition for a shot quickly, as well as my camera settings. While buildings and cityscapes have changing light and street conditions, they certainly are not as fast as animals. Though I've taken a fair amount of people/ street shots and very little time to get ready so I think that helps me.
Racoons are scavengers. They don't need to be in a forest to survive. While growing up in Essex County NJ it was not uncommon to see them crawl out of a sewer drain! We trapped several in our back yard because they kept getting into the trash. We'd take them out to the country to release them. So it doesn't surprise me that this fellow has figured out how to survive in NYC! Great catch!!
I love that you needed confirmation that this was a raccoon! They are cunning (in the old use of the word--cute) but as already mentioned, they have a fierce side. One night I was walking up the steps to my house that had a tree growing next to it and I came eye-to-eye with one. I think I myself more than him. I love the way they look. Great shot. You'd better be careful out there!
oh wow, how cute!! Is it unusual to see a raccoon in NYC? I remember seeing alot of squirrels....but raccoons? this is a fave for me Michael, i love the way he's peeking around the tree:)
they look cute, but i really do not care for them, same as squirrels. but this photo is fabulous, great focus (if it was i, i'd have dropped the camera and ran!). great shot, ME. methinks top 20 again?
