Crazy weekend.....great visits!

What a crazy weekend it has been! Started off the end of the week with a double delight on Thursday.....Ringer and her sister Belle came in for a visit! At least I had my cell phone with me this time for pictures. Ringer greeted me on the path and followed me to the feeding platform and minutes later her sister came crashing through the bushes. That's Ringer in the top picture and Belle in the second....

Of course just because they came in at the same time does not mean they were exactly getting along! They were not on the best of terms and did not want to see each other, but at the same time they both wanted to say Hi to mom and of course get the little handful of chow I brought in case of just such an occasion.

So they came up with a compromise both could live with! LOL
Friday was full of cleaning and torching the main pen, now that the girls were moved out of it. What a project that was.....all day...ugghhh. But it looks great and River now has access to much more room to move about and have the babies explore once they start coming out of the den box.....if she ever lets them! Talk about your overprotective mom!
Saturday was even longer as Laurie and I took a trapping course that is required to become PAC (problem animal control) agents. All day long in a course about trapping and killing wildlife. It was difficult but necessary....now we can become licensed to legally trap animals in other peoples houses and get them outside be released humanely or reunited with the babies left in attics to help prevent so many mom's from being killed and babies ending up in rehab.
Thanks Lisa for taking all our babies to feed for the very long day while we were gone!!!
Sunday was full of feeding babies and heading to JoAnn's house to celebrate Laurie's birthday! It looked like a zoo with carriers full of babies that we all brought that would need feedings throughout the afternoon. We spent more time feeding all the babies than we did feeding ourselves! LOL ....and we were constantly getting new ones delivered while we were there!
Par for the course this time of year. That's why we always get together at one of our houses...so we can bring the babies that need to be fed and still hang out together at the same time!
Whew....I need a day off from my days off!

Stumpy perhaps?

I can only wonder...... is this one of the gang that just had an accident leading to a shorter tail, or a new visitor to the neighborhood, or just maybe it's Belle's one surviving kit from her first unfortunate litter, Stumpy!?! I couldn't get a good enough look to see if it's a boy or a girl, but I'd like to think after he left that fateful den box with his Mom that night back in June 2007 that he found his little niche in the woods, and has had a wonderful life out there since loosing part of his tail as a baby. So I'm sticking with the latter on that one! :)

Things have been very quiet out in the woods with all this snow. I had the camera out there for about 15 days and only 4 short lived raccoon visits, including Stumpy here. Considering the snow is thigh deep on me, and still too soft to walk on top of for anything heavier than a mouse......I'm not surprised! It's just too cumbersome to walk through that, and for smaller mammals, too dangerous to be caught in! The coyotes are not as hampered by it judging by the highway of tracks they have left out there!

With another 15-23 inches predicted for us over the next couple days that may change too. I have been having enough difficulty getting out there as it is, this will not make things easier by any means. Uggghhhhhh!

Some of the girls.

Took a quick run out back after work & feeding the babies. Daisy was dining at one raised feeder. I went over to give her some treats and she crawled into my arms. OMG...what a fatty!!! I can't believe how heavy she was!! She's obviously doing great!

Brownie was out and about with her 4 kits and Belle was quick to come over and say Hi! and grab a treat. She was equally as quick to run back into the bushes where the girls were churring away calling to her.

Kits everywhere!

I just paid a quick visit out to the feeding station and there were mom's and kits everywhere! The first to greet me were Silly and Lexi! I havn't seen Lexi in a while and she appears to be a mom now too. There were at least 8 kits in the tree and top platform. Ringer came in next, followed by Belle with Bella and Macy. Popeye even showed up! He was in a playful, silly mood and wisely avoiding all the girls! Red popped in next with a great big hello.

There were so many kits and mom's shuffling around I couldn't keep track of how many and who belonged to who. Hopefully the coondo camera caught some good pics and I'll post them when I download them.

Screech is doing fine....he wants out but he's a little too gimpy for me to feel comfortable letting him go just yet. I sprayed some antibiotic spray on his wound to help speed the healling along.

The giant swarm of mosquitoes finally got the better of me and I had to come in!

The early birds.

It's 9pm. I just went out back to throw some treats out for the gang and ran into Belle with the girls Bella and Macy. They are doing great and sooooo cute!

Daisy showed up as well. She grabbed a cookie from me and brought it to the waters edge to dunk it. I brought her a few more and snuck out of there. I didn't want her to follow me near Belle and the girls and get herself in trouble! I think she will avoid them if I'm not around to draw her in towards them.

Mom's and kits

Here they are! Finally a sighting of Belle, Bella and Macy! They hung out for quite a while down here and at one point there were a few mom's and their kits all hanging out.

It's hard to see in this picture, but both kits are at the bucket on the platform.

Here we have Ringer and her kit. I think she only has the one. I was out at 1am yesterday and found her at the platform along with a pair of eyes up in the tree. A little one too shy to come down. Seeing these pictures now I'm pretty sure she's just got this one.

And the lovely Daisy is still hanging around. I have been finding her hanging in the den boxes in the release pen during the days. No sign of the rest of the gang when I do get a chance to get out there. Daisy must have been grabbing a small snack before heading in for the day.... while there were no other mom's or adults around to hassle her!!

The terrible twosome!

I had to bring the noisy obnoxious twins inside last night. I went out to feed at midnight. As usual they were extremely loud the whole time. Well then I hear a thud on top of the shed roof. After putting my heart back in my chest, I go out to investigate. There is Belle looking down at me! The sound of crying babies and into super mom mode she goes!

I call her down and she comes over and we chat about the kids and I tell her as much as I would LOVE to pawn these 2 off on her....I just couldn't to that to her! Ha Ha! Then I walk her back over to her pen where she heads up the tree and in to her own babies.

So I brought the big mouths back into the house so their noise would not keep distracting her since now that her release window is open she can get over there and keep trying to get to them.

Their names are Stinky and Nosey now by the way. Should be screamer #1 and #2!!!

This morning the den box is empty and Belle and her babies are out in the real world now. I'm going to worry about them, but I know Belle is a great mom and they are in good hands!

Belle takes the girls out & Silly has kits!

It was time to let Belle decide what's best for the girls. I opened the release window today. She had done a lot of digging in the outside section of the pen last night trying to get out and I knew she was ready. So about 3:30 I opened the window and she didn't waste any time. Out she went and hung out in the tree for a few minutes to get her bearings.

Then back in for one last check to make sure the girls are safe.......

....and off she went. No hesitation, she moved like she was on a mission. That gave me the perfect chance to get the cutest pictures ever of Bella and Macy! Awwwwww!!!!!

Macy is the character with the dark mask on the right, Bella with the lighter on the left.

About 7pm I'm heading out to feed the babies and look what I come across. Belle is back to collect the girls! She was very patient and kept coaxing them on.



Bella made it to the ground but Macy slipped, caught herself and just clung to the branch eventually heading back toward the window. I headed inside to kind of push her to the ground to join mom and sis. Then I heard one of the adjoining residents bark and when I looked out the window they had just disappeared!

Macy ended up regaining her footing, but with no one to follow she just went back inside and took refuge back in her den box, poor girl! She must have been so frightened and confused!

But no need to fret. I knew Belle would come back. She's too good a mom! Sure enough I was out checking on Macy and in pops Belle through the window. Macy was sooooooo happy to see mom! Mom checked her over, then went back outside and guided Bella back into the pen. I left the happily reunited Macy sitting outside the den box with her sister while listening to the sound of Belle crunching her food down on the floor.

In the process of looking out in the woods before Belle returned, I ran across Silly at the feeding platform and she wasn't alone! She's got a couple of kits tagging along now too!!

The kids are big & ready to go soon!

Wow! Look how big Belle's little charges have gotten! Bella is already exploring outside the denbox.... when she can get past her mom without being dragged back in that is! As soon as I get a few moments to rig a tree branch to climb out on, I'll be opening the release window so Belle can decide what to do with them next! It's going to be tough watching them go and not being able to protect them myself...but Belle will handle that well I'm sure!

Well the crew of 4 are safe and sound in Dawn's hands in western MA. Thanks so much Dawn for helping out with our precious cargo! (and to your friends who helped transport them to you!)

I only sent the 4, Clover is having pooping "issues"' and Teddy is doing great, but didn't want to send him just in case. She has enough to deal with herself and don't want to add to it with a single having any medical issues right now.

Down to 14 now and going to have to hold there for now!

The babies are getting big!

Hey there mom! Belle wants to know what what goodies I'm bringing her today! She's a little more comfortable coming out of the den box and leaving the girls alone for a little.

And look who else wants to check out the outside world! You can imagine my surprise when I saw this little head pop up! It was so quick the camera didn't have time to focus, but it's cute anyway!

Then momma Belle came along and dragged Bella back in....you're not going anywhere yet young lady! ha ha (as Bella tries desperately to hold on and stay put!)

Belle had her hands full with that one! She's at the stage where she wants to play and explore!

Macy pretty much just slept through it all until a playful Bella started pouncing on her and woke her up!

As soon as Macy catches up to speed with Bella I think the release window will get opened and Belle can decide what is best for the family. I'm going to miss watching them grow! (and worry about them constantly!!)

Belle gives us a peek & Ringer visits.

Well Belle finally gave me a good peek at the kids! Wow....look at how big they are. Look at Bella. I can't believe that's my little girl! It's such a beautiful sight. Belle is taking very good care of them. Awwwwww.....so very cute!

Bella is a little more rambunctious than Macy right now. Macy will catch up quick though...she's about a week and a half younger than Bella. Bella was trying very hard to get Macy to play here to no avail. Macy just wanted to sleep!

Ringer was here for her usual visit. She hung around for some yummy avocado from mom! It's one of her favorites! That and chicken wings. Good stuff for a lactating mom.

A quick high five for mom..thanks for the treats, and up the tree she went to hang out in her favorite knothole.

Belle and kids.

Here we have Belle and the kids again. Wow, they are growing fast! I can't believe how big they are. Bella's eyes are open and although she can't see well yet, she turned and looked right at me when I flashed the flash light in there. It was obviously the bright light that caught her attention, but I got a great peek at her as she stared in my direction!

Here you can see a little head on each side of mamma's leg.........

.........and a little head on the far right and far left. Belle's face is looking better also. It's amazing how fast they can heal even without our intervention.

Good girl Belle....you're being such a great mamma!

The new kid & a few of the old!

Well here he is! This is Tosser. Someone tossed him out of a car window. A woman was kind enough to pick up the little guy and take him to a vet, eventually ending up in my hands. Aside from a little bump on his head, he is in great shape and eating like a pig.

As you can see, he is a very blond boy also! Couldn't call him Blondie though, already had a Blondie! He was Belle's and Ringer's brother as a matter of fact. There will never be another Blondie.

OK lady! I know I'm very cute, but that's enough with the pictures!! Could ya feed me now!!

Silly was out last night. She's definitely a mom! Her nipples are HUGE! Came for a quick visit and a little play with me then on her way she went.

Paleface was out there the same time. She snuck up on me, gave me a gentle tug on my coat as if to say "Here I am, May I have a treat please!" She looks great.

Red wasn't out when I was out there, but she made sure to say Hi and smile for the camera to let me know she is fine!

Ringer is still making her usual daily visits also. Belle and the babies are doing great. Had some sightings of Feisty and Smokey on the coon cam too. Haven't seen Dandy at all. But I'm pretty sure she was pregnant when I released her again, so if she has kits somewhere I wouldn't expect to see her for a while.

The overwinters are READY TO GO! We're just waiting on Popeye to be all set so we can send them all out together. Soon!!!!

We have eyes open!!

Here is the proud mama yesterday. You can see the wound on the left side of her face here. One of her injuries during the attack on her den. It may have been a small abscess that finally popped or she may just have rubbed the scabs off. Just one of the injuries I am keeping an eye on.

AND!!!!! Bella has her eyes opened! Not in this picture of course, but I got a peek at them! That is Bella's face we see and Macy's butt right in front of that. She is plugged onto mom at the moment while Bella just naps.

The gang....updates!

Popeye is feeling much better now! The infection that had him under the weather has cleared up and he's almost a happy coon again! As soon as the stitches come out and he can go back with his siblings for release he will be thrilled!

He's got a little mat hanging off his nose. Some hair got caked on and tangled in the sutures so it formed this little mat that I am not going to fiddle with...I don't want to pull anything open. It will come off soon enough, either when the scab falls off or we take the sutures out. It's not causing a problem but it sure is silly to look at!

Ringer is still making her usual daytime visits to eat. Every now and then when I am around during her window of arrival, I am able to visit her in person. What a great girl she is!

Belle and the babies, Bella and Macy are doing great! The happy mom is taking such great care of the little ones! The rest of the gang remains elusive. Now that I have gone from the overnight shift to the day shifts at work, I'm just not out and about around 2-3am when they all seem to flock in. If not for the coon cam, I would be going absolutely crazy not being able to keep my eyes on them! I'm hoping I'll get a chance for a late night/early morning visit coming up on one of my days off.

Things are getting crazy around here. Lots of baby squirrels coming in now. Laurie just ended up with 4 new baby coons so I imagine they are going to start flooding in soon!