Miscelaneous meanderings.

Been busy getting animals squared away everywhere these days. I moved the 12 squirrels out to the release pen.

A couple checks to the island release site and on one day we found Sis and Doc in a den box. The next night we were met by Doc out in a nearby tree and there were 2 up in a giant pine that were less than thrilled to see me. I'm guessing 2 of Laurie's shy gang.

We've been getting updates on the crew at the second release site. Various sightings of 6 or so there. I'm hoping we'll get a chance soon to pop down there and check it out.

On one of our trips to the island we came across a dead coonie in the road not to far from my house. The first thing Laurie and I both thought was Gibby! It was too hard to tell for sure as the head was a little crushed. I took him home and buried him....miserable! I spent the night looking for him out in the woods praying for a visit with no luck.....more miserable!! After a day long conference the following day on fluid therapy in NH, I headed back into the woods. As usual River and her little piggies were anxiously awaiting my arrival!

Nile was the lookout above....

....while River then Amazon came in from below.

Amazon is River's #1...she's the dominant one of the kids. She's sporting a new slash on her poor nose now. Nothing major though and it's already improving. I am also amazed at how much nicer they are with me now that they've been released! River wanted to kill me and the 4 kids avoided me at all costs. Since being released, not only have they stuck around, but they have begun trusting me enough to take food right from my hand! Amazon is the most trusting and doesn't hesitate.

Nile is getting braver every day and barely hesitates now. Tigris and Howell are much shyer...Howell will not approach me or let me approach him. He just tolerates my presence. Tigris will start to approach but not take anything from my hand. She prefers to hang back with Howell.

Regardless, all of them are big, fat, healthy, beautiful raccoons that have me wrapped around their little fingers!

Then the amazing happened!! Gibby appeared among Rivers gang! I can not even begin to describe the relief!!!! And the next thing I knew there was quite a crowd around me! Ringer and Belle were there with their kits, and suddenly Quinny showed up, actually grabbed a nut out of my hand, and scurried off! Haven't seen him in person in ages!There was also a little male that definitely knew me enough to take a nut from my hand.... not shy like one of the usual wild kits. Laurie and I are thinking it may have been Andy. He's changed a lot, but the face was somewhat similar....
Further out in the woods, other familiar kits from the wild gang were hanging around waiting to see if I might be leaving dinner out for them this particular evening.....they were not disappointed. :) 

On the nights I don't leave dinner out for every raccoon in the woods, my squirrel/bird feeders are regularly raided. It's not uncommon for me to pull up after a night shift and see some big round furry butts hightailing it across my back lawn in the headlights! When I get in the house I head to the back door to let the dogs out and have to do the coonie check. It never fails...there is usually one, who while trying to figure out why the heck everyone else ran off, gets that deer in headlights "oh shit!" look when the back light goes on and I poke my head out the door. Bagged! Then it freezes and does the whole "if I don't move while hiding behind this tiny branch no one can see me" routine. LOL  I had to make this little fella understand that Yes, I do see you and you have to move along now so I can let the dogs out.

Last night I saw 3 of the biggest butts ever running across the lawn! My coonie check revealed River still in the tree. I should have known! She didn't freeze though. She just acted like she owned the place and wanted to know why I was disturbing her dinner out with the kids. I had to bribe her with a little snack out in the woods to get her out of there so I could let the dogs out. Like I said....wrapped around their little fingers!

Wouldn't have it any other way! :)