Faceoff with Fearless Masked Bandit by alophoto

Faceoff with Fearless Masked Bandit

A new friend or foe? A friend I hope. This critter looked at me fearlessly though the sliding glass door. He interrupted our dinner as the kids could not stop watching his antics outside.

That morning we had put out a few pieces of bread on the back deck for the wildlife. This Lone Ranger Raccoon came by for a feast. And he was not deterred by 3 kids at the glass or my camera pointing at him.

As long as he doesn't start climbing the bird feeder like his buddy the squirrel, I think we will be alright!

What a sneaky sneak. See how he reaches out to the side as I snap this. You can almost read his thoughts..."If I go slowly, she won't notice me. There now, that's nice." Shoves bread in mouth.

Check out the Mad Hatters today...I am kicking off Hook week with a dark shot of the start of Hook's side of the tale: http://365project.org/madhatters/365/2014-05-19 .
Great wildlife photo, he looks a bit menacing I have to say!
May 19th, 2014  
Great shot! Up close and personal.
May 19th, 2014  
I like your raccoon much better than our night robber! Ours comes in the middle of the night (like 3 AM or so) and raids the "squirrel proof -- HA" bird feeder and sucks the juice out of the hummingbird feeder. Consequently I don't see all the birds I used to. I tried to catch him on camera a few times (after he woke me up) but no success. Great shot and a fav.
May 19th, 2014  
Love raccoons. A must fav. You're so lucky to have gotten this quality shot.
May 19th, 2014  
Wonderful capture and story! Great shot, really!
May 19th, 2014  
@adamj Usually, they are out when it is more dark, but this bold fellow was out when it was still pretty bright. Hope he stays on my good side. For now, I like him. How cute, eh? Thanks, A!!!
May 19th, 2014  
@cimes1 Ugh, hate the kind of things that disrupt sleep. It's tough to get a shot of a moving animal in the dark. Thanks so much, Carol!!!
May 19th, 2014  
They are fun critters and smart. Great capture, the clarity is superb, as is your composition and dof. FAV.
May 19th, 2014  
This is a fantastic capture,so cute his face.
A FAV. :)
May 19th, 2014  
Well captured! They look such fun creatures. Fav
May 19th, 2014  
great capture!
May 19th, 2014  
What a perfectly focused and timed shot. Well done. Fav
May 19th, 2014  
Ooo dangerous encounter with the wild life and you lived to tell about it :) Great close up!
May 19th, 2014  
Awesome shot
May 19th, 2014  
Wow..... fav. Just love it. Perfect capture
May 19th, 2014  
What a great shot, he was very interested in you!
May 19th, 2014  
Fabulous shot and what a good looking masked bandit. I've never seen one of these outside a zoo. Fav
May 19th, 2014  
Fantastic close up of this mischievous animal.
May 19th, 2014  
Just hope he doesn't take up residence anywhere. They can do a lot of damage.
May 19th, 2014  
@cdonohoue I think he lives in my neighbors backyard? That's what they think anyway.
May 19th, 2014  
Wowza. Awesome capture!!
May 19th, 2014  
wow! So cool! Dare I say that I think he's cute???
May 19th, 2014  
Brilliant shot
May 19th, 2014  
Fantastic shot! Love the story too!
May 19th, 2014  
Friend indeed :- )
May 19th, 2014  
Super shot and focus!!!
May 19th, 2014  
Great capture of the masked bandit! I think they are one of the cutest wild animals, but I am always a bit leery of one that is out in the daytime.
May 19th, 2014  
This is brilliant. Fav
May 19th, 2014  
What a cutie! Fabulous capture
May 19th, 2014  
Such a wonderful close up shot, detail is very good indeed, fav.
May 19th, 2014  
Fav! Wonderful shot
May 19th, 2014  
What a defiant little bugger! Love this one! Great DOF!
May 19th, 2014  
Very cute- but watch out - it will get braver by the day! ;)
May 19th, 2014  
Wonderful capture,a great story!! Fav!!
May 19th, 2014  
beautifully captured!
May 19th, 2014  
Wonderful capture! We had pet raccoons when my kids were growing up. They hung out with the cats and were so much fun.
May 19th, 2014  
OMG...you got one wonderful photo of this adorable, albeit sneaky, little bugger! Everyone thinks me nuts for enticing them to my yard, but I adore them! Want to keep them out of your bird feeder? Set out a bowl of dry cat/dog food and a large pot of water...and watch the antics begin! They love to wash their food, and they'll even climb into the water. For dessert...marshmallows! They LOVE them! If you're entertaining kids and want photos, this is all you'll need! Good luck & send more photos!
May 19th, 2014  
@Weezilou Oooh, good to know. They are so stinkin' cute and it hasn't become a nuisance yet like the squirrel has. I'll have to try those tricks for future shots. I so love all the great wildlife that I see in my yard...birds, chipmunks, squirrels (when they are nice), raccoons and even deer very occasionally. I want to see more deer. Thanks so much for the kind words and fav!
May 19th, 2014  
it's screaming "rabies!!!!" they get more aggressive if you feed them. if you want to get near them or you don't mind them coming to your yard, have the whole family vaccinated for rabies. they're cute, but.... great capture though, a.
May 19th, 2014  
Mmmm, I sense a BBQ coming on
May 19th, 2014  
Splendid guy
May 19th, 2014  
Mat
Sharp and beautifully timed! Is this one a young raccoon?
May 19th, 2014  
What a great shot!
May 19th, 2014  
@mats365 I don't know...young or kinda skinny? It's nuts that it's out while it is still bright. It wasn't foaming at the mouth, though, so I wasn't too worried:). Thanks, Mat. I was at the window for a bit, much to the chagrin of my hubby as it was our dinner time. It kinda wrecked it for the kids, too, as they wanted to watch the cool critter.

@snackmaster Mmmmm, pulled raccoon;-). It's kinda small. I need to put out more bread and fatten it up first!!
May 19th, 2014  
He's very cute.
May 19th, 2014  
Superb wildlife shot Amanda, what a gorgeous critter.
May 19th, 2014  
wow .. the focus is terrific ,,, he does look like he means business ..fav
May 19th, 2014  
Wow! Fabulous close-up! Instant fav!
May 19th, 2014  
I don't know whether to say, Ahh! or Eeek! with all these comments! Its a very good photo of him - never know its through the glass!
May 19th, 2014  
@maggiemae I keep clean windows...sometimes:).
May 19th, 2014  
Favulous xx
May 19th, 2014  
hahaha, what a capture!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 19th, 2014  
In the words of my boys "what a cutie little guy!" fav.
May 20th, 2014  
great capture!! fav!!
May 20th, 2014  
Huge fan...fav!
May 20th, 2014  
Fabulous focus! We had a family of 5 racoons in our backyard at the old house. They make a big mess!!
May 20th, 2014  
instant fav
May 20th, 2014  
I love this Amanda! I would say I hope there was a screen between the two of you but I dont see one. LOL. Raccoons are mean little suckers. :)
May 20th, 2014  
its a great shot. perfectly focused. But make sure the kids don't try to touch him...they can be mean.
May 20th, 2014  
faved
May 20th, 2014  
Wow! What a great shot! It's not every day you can get a shot like that!
May 20th, 2014  
Fantastic capture - love the detail, pose and catchlights in his eyes :)
May 20th, 2014  
a new friend ! he's so cute !
May 20th, 2014  
Fantastic capture!
May 20th, 2014  
great capture
May 20th, 2014  
Love this capture -- his expression is sneakiness for sure!
May 20th, 2014  
Wow, how fun this is. I love where you live and the wildlife that you get to see like this one. Love your story too. Wonderful detail in this shot. FAV
May 20th, 2014  
Mac
Raaaaabies! But he sure is cute. Nice shot!
May 21st, 2014  
Favulous shot!!! Great clarity and expression! Love it = FAV
May 21st, 2014  
great shot.
May 21st, 2014  
You caught the moment and you have captured a character! Such wonderful clarity has made it seem very appealing! Don't let it see it, you don't really want to encourage it!
May 22nd, 2014  
PS FAV!
May 22nd, 2014  
@yrhenwr Thanks so much, David. I loved this furry little dude!
May 22nd, 2014  
just saw this on the top 20 page. Love it!
May 23rd, 2014  
@hippiechick13 Aw, thanks so much. I was pleasantly surprised to see this on there today!:)
May 23rd, 2014  
he is gorgeous and so appropriate for the TT - well done!
May 24th, 2014  
Oh he's going the climb that feeder... No doubt in my mind....... mine only come at night and Bob has to bring the feeder in every night so he doesn't wrestle it to the ground. FAV
May 24th, 2014  
Super job on TT Amanda...soooo cute!
May 24th, 2014  
Congrats on TT.
May 24th, 2014  
Just checking in and look what I found. Congratulations on the TT!!
May 24th, 2014  
such a great shot Amanda! love that little face!
May 24th, 2014  
@annied @eyesmile @ziggy77 @cdonohoue @lesip @paula365

Thanks kindly, my friends. Being on TT was a very pleasant surprise. Really appreciate your congrats and faves. Gosh, this guy was cute. I saw him again the other evening. Last night, while out, my husband almost hit one crossing the road and I told him last minute and saved him. One couldn't make me the TT and then run one down that same night;-). glad we missed it!
May 24th, 2014  
Congrats on TT!
May 25th, 2014  
Congrats on the TT! Awesome shot!!
May 26th, 2014  
@egad @pflaume Aw, thank you, my friends. Loved this little dude:)!
May 26th, 2014  
What a fabulously clear shot and what a cute face
June 8th, 2014  
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