An unwelcome reunion!

On my way home from work today I decided to swing by the release site and check it out. I had filled the feeders a few days before Christmas and haven't been back since. The food was barely touched.....typical this time of year and after all the snow we got just after Christmas.

Checked the den boxes in the pen and empty as usual. When I tried to move the one on top of the pen it seemed a little heavy though! So I grabbed a ladder and opened up the back and Surprise!!!!

Forgive the crappy quality of the pics....only had my cell with me!

They were less than thrilled about seeing me and the only look I got of the browner one's face was the first pic. Spent the rest of the time trying to become one with the back wall. Squished up as close to it as possible, facing it the rest of the time and not moving a muscle...because as you may not know, it's a well documented fact among coonies that if ya do that, the strange, scary creature can't see you! You are now magically invisible to all! LOL I took advantage of the "become one with the wall" move to cop a little feel (hehe) of the other ones backside! I was rewarded with this less than pleased look! But it was enough to know it's got plenty of body fat and at a healthy weight.

Considering they were cornered in there, I was lucky enough to see what I did without any war wounds! There is really no way to get a better look and give them a thorough exam for injuries. Both were BAR (bright, alert, responsive) and good body weight so no illness. If injured, it's not keeping them away from food or preventing them from climbing. I'm guessing these guys are smart enough to hole up close to the food in this horrible cold weather so they don't have to freeze their paws off for too long to get a meal! LOL
I wish I could say for sure who they were. I don't think I'd recognize any of Laurie's anyway, and they change a lot.... it's hard to tell when not seeing them regularly. I know who they definitely aren't.....any of the Attitudes (Vin's brothers), the Beach boys (Tash's brothers), Michelle or Pansy. I think the dark one is possibly Drake or Quarry.....both were dark like this and the total fear would fit Drake perfectly, where I would think his sister might have at least shown a hint of "hey I remember you I think!" Drake was one of the skittish ones that wouldn't come near me but his sister loved the mama! Of course I can guess till the cows come home and I'll never be sure! I'm happy enough to have had the brief visit and know they are doing alright!

And they're off.......Michelle's group gets released.

Sunday night Laurie and I released the last of the gang going out this fall. We were a little more attached to this crew so it was a little bit tougher saying goodbye! We brought Vin back over too. He healed well and was ready to go. We figured it would not be difficult bringing him back into the pen since none of them had an issue with each other the day we found him in there.....and we were right! He immediately had friends coming over to say Hi and play! Laurie became a human tree when some treats were brought out to make everyone come over so we could check them before releasing them.....it's blurry but great! They were moving so fast I'm lucky I got it at all!

Two of the beach boys had some issues....one had a scraped nose and one had an abscess right between his eyes! What the heck! While mulling the situation over in my mind, he ended up popping it in the mad rush for treats and was very diligent using his paws to clean it. So issue resolved.....abscesses are very common in them in the wild and most usually resolve themselves unless they are as extensive as Vin's were. This is already draining now and he can easily reach it to keep it clean and draining so he should be fine. We'll keep an eye on him also.

So decision made, a final goodbye to the gang....especially my sweetheart Michelle.....
(sniff, sniff!)

....and out the door they go!

The abscess was already looking better.....and he's still doing a great job keeping it clean! He certainly isn't acting like it bothers him!

A den box was put on top of the pen after we put the gang in there in case another of Vin's gang made their way back injured....this way they would still have a safe place to hole up since they wouldn't be able to get into the pen for a while. This crew wasted no time investigating it.

The rest of the time we were there they spent running around like maniacs and obsessing over acorns! This crew didn't just melt off into the woods like the first crew.....they hung out around the pen like they usually do and Laurie and I finally snuck away to leave them with their fun!

Vin's second release...he stuck around this time.

We didn't see Drake there when we released them, but I'm sure he's around and will catch up with them....I saw him hanging out near the pen just the day before so I know he's doing great and will be very happy his buddies can join him now!

Laurie went by Monday morning and the majority of the gang were sacked out in the den boxes in and on the pen. Vin really likes this gang and he's apparently decided to stick with them instead of head back out to wherever the rest of his brothers disappeared to a couple months back.

We'll keep an eye on the area for a while until eventually, they too will move on and find their own homes in the woods.

Dancing babies!

All 13 young kids are doing great and getting along together....whew! They are just so cute I can't stand it! Michelle relaxes here, trying to beat the heat. It has been pretty hot and humid this past month! I don't know how they do it with all that fur....but it doesn't seem to phase them all that much! Drake is eating...AGAIN! He is the biggest piggy with a pot belly to boot!

Drake and Michelle

Quarry wastes no time getting into position to jump onto me when I walk into the pen. Getting onto the box gets her to about thigh height on me....a nice big, trunk like area to cling to and climb up! Ouch!

Pansy is kind enough to climb the branches, not my limbs.

2 of the beach boys....Tash and Chappy....are interested in the wrestling match going on in the hammock.

Of all the coonie kids that have come and gone, I have never had so many that liked to stand on 2 legs than this group! All 4 of the beach boys, Pip, Merry and Kinky all love to stand on 2 legs, getting onto the box to get my attention by standing up and waving with their front feet. It is soooo adorable and they look like they are dancing!

(And yes, that is Quarry getting ready to spring onto me on the left! That left a new hole in the sweatpants! )

Oooohh....oooohh...pick me, pick me!!!

Ta dah!!

Have I mentioned how freaking cute Pip is?? LOL

The results are in!

Finally! We have the necropsy results on Phillip. Bottom line....NO INFECTIOUS PROCESS! That means no more quarantine....wooohoooo! It was most likely a genetic neurological process.

So that means the 8 younger kids have now been joined by Pansy, Drake and Quarry. Pansy is thrilled to have friends for a change and Drake and Quarry were more than happy to meet new ones. One big happy family of 11 now and I'm happy to say the younger 8 had no problem whatsoever welcoming 3 newcomers and vice versa!

So we have Pansy on the largest side, and Pip on the smallest and a hodge-podge of sizes in between....it's quite the motley crew!

Drake and Quarry

I totally forgot I have not properly introduced Drake and Quarry! They were out of quarantine last week and graduated to the shed. The girl, Quarry, is very outgoing! Her favorite place to play is on my back....in my hair!

The boy, Drake, is a little more skittish. He's not nasty if I handle him, but he definitely prefers it if I DON'T! He does not want to play with me but doesn't mind me being around.

Needless to say they are both very lucky to be alive and very cute!

They'll be joining the younger group and Pansy, rounding out the second group of babies that are now outside!