Holy Blizzard Batman!

The only living creatures I know of that actually enjoyed the Nor-Easter/blizzard we just got SLAMMED with are these two crazy nuts!!! LOL

Bernard especially enjoyed it, bounding around like a deer in 2 feet of snow, then burrowing under it! I have to say I'm surprised.....considering he is a southern rescue. This was his second snow fall and he is delighted! They stayed out and played in it while I went and dug out the pens and I nearly had to drag him back inside he loved it so much. My other southern rescue, Marley the 3 legged pit, wanted absolutely nothing to do with it! I'm with him on that one!The pens were buried, LB and the boys never even poked their heads out while I dug out the door to their pen. The rest of the gang, on the other hand, were a little braver.

Nothing stops the 3 little piggy's from asking for a meal! They came right out and finally convinced a couple of the older ones to join them.

They got some fruit to snack on....even that didn't convince the smarter ones to come out into the crappy weather.....then we all returned to our respective dens to hole up for the remainder of the storm!

This is by far the most interesting position I have seen for eating a plumb. That's one way to enjoy your lunch out of the elements! (sort of)

Kinky digs right in. Scrappy was the only other one that bothered to come out. The rest waited for me to toss the fruit in to them in the indoor section of the pen.

The snow has finally stopped, but the wind hasn't. I have to break a new path each time I go out there....within a half hour of my passing, it's all filled in again! Considering it's above my knees, it's very frustrating .....and exhausting!!

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!

The squirrel cafe.

For those who may be wondering what happens to all the squirrels that get released.....well they end up outside my kitchen window for breakfast every morning of course! The "bird" feeders out there weren't put there for the birds after all! LOL

There were 14 out there on this particular morning. Everyone looks quite fat and healthy I must say. This one is a regular.....and this is the preferred method of dining....hanging vampire style the whole time...every time! As you can see she's got it down to a science!

The coonies aren't the only ones that love pumpkin! I also put some out there for the squirrels and they go nuts for it!There is always one wise guy that has to take the treats I do leave for the birds! Recently the suet (that usually lasts a week or so) kept disappearing by the next day. Finally, after some snow on the ground, I think I figured out the mystery. I think the little rats are going at it, pulling it out and dropping it on the ground. It's too heavy for them to carry it off, but I'm sure the fox that belongs to the prints that lead to the feeder had noooooooo problem scoffing up the chunk of tasty fat! It's a conspiracy I tell ya! The squirrels probably worked it out with the fox.....stop eating us and we'll supply ya some good chow in return! LOLThere was one little guy that looked a little rough around the edges that I'm keeping an eye on. Looks like a large healed scar on it. I'm guessing it was badly injured and holed up somewhere and actually managed to heal. Seems to be doing well now.....a little thin but not alarmingly so (and to be expected if it was holed up healing for a while) but eating up a storm now and apparently well on the road to recovery since it's been out there regularly recently. It won't be long before it fattens right up again like the rest of them!

LB and the boys.

LB, Andy, Gibby and Ringo are doing great in their own private suite at the inn. LB is finished with his antibiotics and all is still well with him. Whew! No more problems over the course of the winter should indicate it is not going to be a chronic problem and he should be set to go with the rest of the gang.

We had a doozy of a blizzard just after Christmas where most of the gang....including myself, holed up in their den boxes for a couple days. After the wind finally died down it was back to business as usual for them.

Andy, Ringo, Gibby and LB....always eager to come out for dinner!

The rest of the gang in the big pen are great also, and with some of the boys separated the conflicts have ceased where Vin is concerned.

The girl that came in around mid November that was staying in Mary's pen until I had room....well she's still there! The cage wasn't vacant long after Vin and Tash moved out and since she's doing great and has settled in well over at Mary's, we'll just let her stay there. She's not ill and acting more like a raccoon should be, running and hiding when Mary checks on her. Come springtime we'll just open the door to the pen and she'll be free to go right from Mary's.....barring any other raccoon shuffling we may have to do!