The reds are settled in.

The reds have totally made themselves at home. Now when I go in there they are all running around scolding  me instead of hiding in the nest box. They are loving the nice big outdoor cage....which is MUCH bigger than the cage they were going to be spending the winter in. Characters they are....all 7 of them! Adorable little buggers!

Boston gets some friends!

We have been so lucky with such mild temps up until now! Unfortunately that is coming to an end, and with single digit temps predicted (accurately I might add!) to start today, I was under the gun to shuffle some of the gang around while it could still be done. I didn't want to risk frostbite and more importantly, quite frankly, I just didn't want to freeze my ass off!

So....... thanks to a LOT of help from Laurie, coonies have been successfully shuffled just in time to beat the freezing temps out there today! It's not like we had anything better to do with our time off than run around in the woods fixing pens and moving coons around, right? LOL

The boys have been totally separated from the girls. Not going to have a repeat of the Vin Adventure's this year! Totally different pens so there can be no B&E's and larcenies of raccoon maidenhood! LOL

And the best part of all....Boston has friends! We moved him into the big pen downtown first and I'm happy to report he's walking and climbing with no problem! The inside of his leg has totally healed and the top of his foot is better every day.

Once the rest of the boys started arriving he was a little nervous at first and slunk around hiding from them. Then he ended up in this den box....followed by the 5 boys. Now he had no choice but to say hello....like it or not! LOL

I'm happy to say the boys were on their best behavior with him. Eventually he chanced a little look-see outside......

....then he got braver, and actually got a little excited about it I think! The worst he got was a little huff from Bama, but Chester here and the rest were nothing but encouraging to him. Good ole' Chester even gave his ears a little lick. Although he wouldn't come out of there while I was in the pen, for the first time he actually chanced a little sniff of my hand when I approached the den box instead of retreating to hide inside. He was definitely cognizant of my interaction with the boys and seemed to realize that I might just be OK if other coonies are not afraid to be near the big scary monster! Regardless, he is a gentle soul, and we had no problem vaccinating and transferring him to the big pen! (unlike some of the brats we raised from babies!)

Speaking of brats.....hehe. Cooper down below and Chester on the left were very good boys for the process. The other 3 (Bama and Laurie's 2- on the right and the next pic)......ugghh! But once they got settled in they were a little forgiving of us.

Bama here was the worst and as you can see, remained quite peeved even after settling in.

Chester is loving it!

Cooper .....

...not quite sure what to make of the fire hose bridge!

So.... the hammock that was here.....you're, ummm,  planning on replacing that right?

 We are gonna have a blast!

New friends, new pen....what could be better!

Trooper's gang reunited & other goings-on!

Houdini has fit right in with Petey, Pinner and Spencer! All 4 get along very well and Houdini's wounds are healing very well.
Houdini smiles for the camera.

Pinner

Petey enjoys some apple.

Little Spencer says Hi!

All 4 of them have been moved outside finally, into the pen vacated by Trooper and the whole gang. They are loving it out there and have been joined by 2 of Laurie's kids, Cooper and Mayhem and all 6 are getting along perfectly.

In the meantime.....all the older maniacs are taking full advantage of the big pen! With a lot more room to run around in, more height and trees to climb and a pool, it is raccoon heaven as far as they are concerned.

Their biggest decision of the day....chicken necks or apples? Hmmmm...tough choice! LOL

Once a coveted chicken neck is chosen, it's time to run off and HIDE away from everyone else so they don't have to share it! Soldier wasted no time escaping with his!

Brim in his hiding spot of choice. Look at those ears! Remind  you of another Dumbo-esk coonie from the past? I'll give you a hint.....Seeker! We can contact life on planets far, far away with those ears...hehe.

The lovely Miss Porcelain.

With one ear, Doc is always easy to spot.

It doesn't take long for 19 baby coons to trash a nice clean pool...but Rocco is enjoying a swim anyway.

Sammy looking a little guilty if ya ask me!

Bobbing for whats left of the apples.

I'm not positive, but that looks like Sis's butt to me.

Pebbles

Trooper after I snatched him up before he could cause the mayhem I knew he was planning! I think his look says it all....."what? what'd I do?!" Nothing this time you little bugger! LOL

Bama, Springer, Chester, Rizzoli, Isles, Legend and Tumbler eagerly await their chance to get in there!

Minutes later I obliged them...and oh what a fun time was had by all!

The little stinkers get an outside suite!

The 5 little skunks have graduated to an outdoor pen. I spent most of the day putting this together for them. I don't know why they include instructions...they are useless anyway!! Well it's finally together and the skunks love it!

They are eating on their own and as soon as they are big enough off they go!

NCIS meets attitude!

The NCIS crew had graduated to the shed, wreaking havoc climbing all over the place as many past litters had! Cute as can be they enjoyed their new playground.

Then it was finally time to meet the big boys! So I brought them out to the outdoor pen for a meet and greet with the Attitde boys. A couple of the big boys were not too thrilled about the smaller, new arrivals to begin with.....

But within half an hour the little kids and the big boys were fast friends!

They all even eat in peace together! Amazing!

They did so well I was able to leave the little kids out there with big boys instead of putting them back in their crate in the shed! They have the run of the smaller outdoor section of the pen and the indoor section and they are LOVING it!!! A lot more room for running and big trees for climbing....awesome!

Gibbs, Dinozo, McGee, Abbey, Ziva, LL, The Rock, Gerry, Vin and Bruce are officially one big happy family!