Leave it to Red!

All in all, a pretty great ending to a crappy couple of days thanks to Red! I was out filling the feeders and as I stepped up to reach one on top of a platform, I was surprised to find myself nose to nose with an equally surprised raccoon! We both jumped and fell backwards...it was comical! When I started talking and the coonie responded in kind churring back at me I was thrilled to realize it was Red! I haven't seen her since last fall! She was very happy to see mom again and as per our usual routine last year, she proceeded to follow me while I filled the other feeders to make sure I was doing it right! Perfect timing for a perfect visit! She must have known I needed it!

C'mer and give me a hug mom! (Yes-she did proceed to climb up my leg into my arms! It would have been a good time to be wearing jeans...Ouch! LOL)

I went and got her one of her favorite treats and we hung out for a while. She's definitely a mom and she looks great!
Lexi also joined us. A little more skittish...she didn't want much attention, but she stuck around and checked out the treats I had (not to her liking I might add)....also definitely a mom!

Pretty soon some of the other mom's started sifting in....some too shy with me around so I got outta there to allow them a chance to eat in peace before everyone else came in.

And notice the sun? Here it is in full color people....Yes, raccoons do come out in the daytime, and no it doesn't mean they are sick! In the course of half an hour I had 3 out there....all very healthy and all just moms looking to eat quickly and get back to the kids!

The squirrels are free!

Yesterday was a beautiful day with a few more predicted, so it was time to release the 4 gray squirrels finally!! It was like I brought them to Disney World, running around and playing like maniacs in the trees. Great fun to watch!

One of them at a feeder on top of the cage.

Mojo took a minute to slow down and say thanks!

.....and give a couple poses for the camera!

Laurie has her hands full! She went from 2 baby grays to 6 reds and another older gray all in one day! Here is one of the groups of reds......they area adorable!!!

The damn coondo camera hasn't been working right. It's taking still pics but the video won't play. It's possibly a problem with the sd card so I am hoping getting a new one will solve the problem. It's hard to assess injuries with still shots!

This is Lexi, the girl I think is the injured one that has not been using her front leg. She is using it somewhat still and is even starting to look like an expecting mother again. It's obviously not slowing her down too much! It's been about a month and she's still visiting regularly and getting around fine....and enjoying her food!

De-stressing, raccoon style & a visit with Lexi!

Ok...2 days of a broken furnace and no heat (and many calls to many repairmen before getting one to even call back), an oil change that turned into a $430 fix, a broken vacuum cleaner with a bernese mountain dog living here (among many other domestic residents!), and what started as a fairly simple and amicable divorce (as simple and amicable as divorce can be I guess!) now turning ugly and stressful. My week has been VERY bad!!

There is always one thing that helps a lot! Playin' with tha boyze!! I think they all knew mom needed a pick me up....even Mo, who usually gives a quick hi from inside the den box without leaving it, ventured out! Not only that, he was all about giving me some love! Crawled right into my arms for some lovin' and playing.

The whole gang came out to play and were just a little more attentive to me than usual....

And like Mo, Nosey was also particularly attuned to my mood giving me some extra lovin' that he knew I needed!

Like I said, nothing better than coonie cuddles to make it all better! If you don't believe animals can pick up on how you feel and react to it, you are crazy...these guys are living proof!

Later, seeing as it appears to be warmer outside than in my house at the moment...I figured I would venture out and see who might be about. 1 raccoon remained at the feeding platform when I approached....and I was very happy to be greeted by Lexi! She waited for me to come over, checked me out, took a nut from me then disappeared into the brush towards the water. It was short but sweet and I was thrilled that she at least waited to say Hi before scooting off again. She is one of my first releases.....one of Ringer's and Belle's step siblings from 2006 so It's great to see her doing so well still!

Now I'm gonna go cuddle with the dogs and cats and keep warm...luckily the temps have been in the 50's, but they are going to drop drastically again. The repairman should be here first thing in the morning! He's the only one that called me back and was shocked I had been 2 days without heat or anyone even calling me back to help! I wish I had called him first 2 days ago!

Vetrans & Rookies hanging out back

I just came in from a visit out back to check on the gang. I couldn't believe I ran into Brownie! Wow...I haven't seen her in a while! She is Ringer and Belle's sister from my first gang. She was more than happy to get some treats and a good back scratch from mom again! It was good to hear her bark too! Yup....she actually barks at any of the other coonies that come near her. It is a very distinctive bark and I would recognize it anywhere. And why was she barking do you say?? Because she had 4 little ones in tow now! She's the most protective mom I have out there, keeping everyone at bay when she has kits and it's good to see that hasn't changed. They were at a different feeding station than the "kit daycare tree" and everyone else was more than happy to give them their space.

Next in was Ringer, Lexi and their crew. They and their kits get along very well together. It was very cute watching the kits greet each other and say hi!

Daisy came in next, followed by Popeye. He's walking around fine on his foot again. On my way out I ran into Screech, also walking well on his foot. The newly released gang seems to finally be settling in to their new domain. I think Foxy was out there too, there was a pair of eyes with Daisy, but a little too shy to come in to say hi. Last time I saw Daisy the same thing happened but I managed to get a peek at the body behind the eyes and it was Foxy so I think this is the same situation.

Lots more racket going on in the woods, but the massive swarm of mosquito's got the better of me....even in my goofy looking mosquito netting clothes!

Here they come!

Here is the gang starting early last night. Mom's and kits all over the place! Everyone is getting along pretty well for the most part also.

When I showed up the kits all ran up the trees while the mom's came running to say Hi to me....and get the treats they know I brought them too!! This is Lexi & Silly.

Eventually the kits realized if their mom's thought I was OK, then I must be! Silly's were the bravest as you can see here. They even gave my hands a little sniff or two before putting a little distance between us.

Finally the rest of the gang started coming back down the trees and hanging out while the big, scary stranger was there!

There were kits hanging everywhere! Here you can see 5 of the crowd of many. All the kits have a blast playing with each other....it's like a big kit daycare tree hangout. All the kids get to play with each other while the mom's visit and chat over lunch! ha ha It's definitely a safe place for them to eat....up high on a raised platform with very easy access to trees makes for safety from any possible predators for the kits.

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 New Family & other sightings.

I'm happy to report Belle and her new family are doing great. She is taking VERY good care of her 2 new babies. I got a quick peek at Bella and Macy before she scooped them up and turned them away from my view, putting herself between myself and them.

Popeye is doing OK. He's a little under the weather, apparently due to a slight infection from his injury. He is now on antibiotics and should be feeling better soon. He certainly has no problem avoiding us when he know it's time for his shot though! Plenty of energy then!

The coon cam has been showing a regular visitor to the feeding station around 1:30 the past few afternoons. I popped out back this afternoon to check it out. I had a feeling it was my girl Ringer. She did this last year when she had babies....showed up most afternoons around 3pm. Then showed up with her 3 kits in tow one afternoon.

Sure enough I'm standing out there and she appears like clockwork from the woods across the pond. She came right over when I called her and had her favorite treat waiting for her......some yummy avocado! Ringer also happens to be Belle's sister. We had a little visit and I got some good pics. I'll post them when I get a chance to download them! She looks great and I have no doubt she'll take good care of her kits wherever they are!

Red was out as usual last night running around like a maniac. Ran into her sister Silly too! I thought it was Red at first...they look identical except for their tail tips. They are even moulting the same. I couldn't figure out why she walked up to me, gave me a quick sniff hello, then continued on into the bushes! She practically ignored me! Huh! Then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and turned just in time for Red's usual assault....jumping all over me wanting to play! Ha ha She's such a love!

The rest of the gang still eludes me in person. They are not usually out until 2 or 3am on the coon cam! I am able to discern a few individuals out though and am confident of Feisty, Smokey, Sarge, Lexi and Goofball sightings.

Red, Lexi, Sarge, Dandy & fun in the rain.

I cannot be positive due to the quality of the pics, but I'm pretty sure this was Dandy on the right last night. The face is a little pug-like. She's obviously doing well since her surgery and hanging with the old gang again! Thank goodness!

All the rain we got in the early morning hours didn't put a damper on things for the gang. They are totally unfazed by it as they lounge and eat! I wish they would all come out earlier though! Most of them show up in the wee hours of the morning from like 2am on. It doesn't make it easy for me to run into them at all!



Ran into Red last night also. She's up to her old crazy ways! She was running around like a maniac last night wanting to play with me. The foot is obviously not slowing her down at all any more!

Lexi dropped in for a visit too! I haven't seen her in a while....she looks great! She's a little timid and would run to me, then dart off when she heard all the racket Red was making jumping around. I got a quick hello, she got a quick scratch under the chin and off she went to get away from the ruckus.



Shortly after Lexi left Sarge showed up. It looks like at some point he had gotten a nasty wound on his right ankle and heel. Looks like someone may have gotten the better of him in a scuffle. The leg was still a little swollen, but the wounds were already healing and granulating in. It looked good and is healing very well, plus he is using the leg with no problem. His appetite and condition are great so I let him be. I think he probably had a good sized abscess at one point that went through it's usual progression and all is now on the mend. I am always amazed at their tolerance to pain and their natural abilities to heal really well without our interference when need be.

Baby Bella is up to 175 grams and doing great. I am expecting her eyes to start to open within the coming week and then she'll start to really grow fast!