An update on Diesel's group.

I'm happy to report things are going well at the first release site! I haven't been running into them on my visits out there...and thanks to the camera I know it's because they are usually out there in the wee hours of the morning! Some occasional "prime time" visits but mostly middle of the night. Another reason I love this camera! I freak when I don't run into them thinking all kinds of bad things....but thanks to the camera, I can still check up on them and I feel MUCH better!

A good view of Cat!

Checking out incoming company...

Grizzly is there a lot!

Finally they all start trickling in.....I love how they all huddle together around the bucket! LOL

And our camera shy visitor....wow, look how quick he springs outta there once he notices the camera!!

Friends and furry sightings.

Last night was a great night! Had a wonderful visit and home cooked meal at Celine's. It was awesome to say the least....thanks so much Celine!!!!

I was on my way home when I decided at the last minute to check out the first release site....it wasn't far and it was a nice warm night. I have been various times looking for the gang with no luck since that first day, but not this late yet (around 11pm). Boy am I sooooo glad I did! Within minutes of filling the feeder and calling to the crew came the unmistakable sound of approaching critters! Diesel and Dozer wasted no time....it was like I had never been gone! Right over to me, both of them climbing up and into my arms. Cookies and lovin' thoroughly enjoyed! I couldn't get them out of my arms. A third came in, chattering away but not coming close. After some time watching the other 2 carry on like babies with me he decided to check it out a little closer. It was Razz! He was hesitant to approach, but nothing an iced oatmeal cookie couldn't change! LOL He was soon climbing all over me like the other 2. Then a fourth started over....Kodiak! He wasted much less time than Razz and once he was sure it was me, it was one big coonie pile on mom!

Oh it was so great to see them...and they look amazing! Big, strong, strapping young boys with beautiful coats and getting very big!

The ride home was spent dodging furry things in the road..it was crazy.

At one point I come across a coonie by the roadside...he moved back onto the sidewalk as my car approached and remained there as I drove by. It bothered me that it didn't just run back into the woods, something was up so I felt compelled to go back and check it out. Other cars had passed by and I was worried about it getting hit. As I get back to the area I had seen it, sure enough there it is lingering on the sidewalk...like it definitely wanted to cross but kept getting interrupted by cars going by maybe. (At least is seemed street smart). I passed and further up turned around again....waiting a couple minutes to give it time to cross without scaring it back to the side. I decide if it's still there I have to check it out and make sure it is ok. As I once again approach the area I see the glow of it's eyes on the sidewalk....then I suddenly see another glowing pair right in the middle of the road. What the heck! As soon as the one in the middle of the road sees me, it snatches up the smooshed squirrel that has been in the road for days now, dragging it back to the sidewalk and both turn and run back into the woods with the cherished prize!

What a riot. I could just picture them talking....Dude, I dare ya to go get that squirrel in the road.......Oh crap! Quick, here comes another car....Grab it, hurry up, lets go, come on!....I Got it, quick lets get outta here!....That was close, I thought you were a goner there for a minute!

Satisfied all is well, I head out again towards home. I come across an animal hit in the road....looks like a cat. Soooooooo I pull over to check it out. It's a gray fox. I check and the poor thing is dead (not long past) so all I can do is move it to the side out of the road so it doesn't get smooshed. What a shame....aside from being dead, it was a beautiful, healthy animal.

I head out again and a few yards down I come across something else in the road. This time it's a cat just sitting there. (Looked like Boots Celine!) I'm waiting for it to run out of the road as I roll up to it but it seemed clueless! WTF! It wasn't till I rolled to a stop about a car length away from it and revved the engine ....... Helllllloooooooooo!........ that if finally noticed me and was like....OH crap! and darted out of the road.

I pretty much drove the rest of the way home going 2mph afraid of what I would come across next! I was glad to get home!

The raccoons are alright!

Well it's been a week and a half since releasing Diesel's gang. I have been over there at various times but haven't seen anyone since that day Diesel, Dozer and Razz showed up. Sooooooo..I put the coon cam out there! I'm so happy to report my babies are doing great! Looks like they're all hanging out together still. Most of them are in this clip!

Quite a few spent some time screwing with the camera too...." Oh look, mom left us a new toy!" More than a couple clips look like a 9.5 on the Richter scale while they knocked it around! LOL Apparently I secured it well enough....it was still pointing in the right direction the next morning....just a little muddier...covered in dirty coonie paw prints!

My mind is more at ease now as they appear to be settling into their new home well.

A visit with Diesel, Razz & Dozer!

Went to the release site yesterday morning to check things out. Ran into 3 of the boys....they were hanging out in the same tree I found Cat, Panda and Tank in the previous morning. Boy were they happy to see mom! They made their way down....

.....and were all about cuddling in my lap! It was like they were afraid to get out of my lap knowing I would leave again...

...and once again I had to leave and it really sucked leaving them behind again.

The release-Diesel's group.

Here are some pics of the gang getting released last night. Needless to say they had a field day in the trees! Then again, what raccoon doesn't!!

....although, Grizz seems a little unsure of that!

Everybody up!!!

Making sure mom is still around....

This is why I call them velcro coons! It looks like that foreign game show where they wear a velcro suit and jump onto a velcro wall and try to stick to it! LOL

Going down...

A wonderful sight seeing them free and having sooooo much fun!

I had to sneak out of there....as usual it's so hard to leave them....I never know if I'll ever see them again. I went by there around noon today and ran into Cat, Tank and Panda. I saw them up a tree and was going to try sneaking out before they saw me, but as I walked away I heard them start chattering to me and they came down for some hugs.....again, tough to tear myself away from them again!! I went back again near dusk and no sign of anyone... :(

I hate saying goodbye....and not being able to protect and watch over them anymore!

Crazy, crazy day! Release & relocation.

A vacation day from work definitely doesn't mean I didn't work!! Up bright and early and over to Diesel's group to feed them and bring a few last minute things over for their release.

Then back home to pack up Baloo, Scootch, RJ, Flipper, Willie, Einstein and Rosie....and everything needed for their release site. A couple minor battles and some annoying wounds later, it's all packed up in the truck and we're on our way.

Got the gang set up in their new pen and off I go again.....back home to take care of the overwinters.

Back over to Diesel's group for the big release!!

Diesel, Tank, Cat, Dozer, Mack, Razz, Goldie, Panda, Grizz and Kodiak are now free raccoons! (sniff, sniff). I set up a couple feeders for them near their cage and explored the area with them for about an hour until it got dark. When it was time to leave I threw some treats down to occupy them while I slipped out of there. Diesel had already followed me down towards the car when I brought the empty buckets down, then followed me right back up so I didn't want a repeat of that! On my way down for the last time it was Razz that started following! "sigh" While his attention was diverted by something, I made a break for it...a mad dash down the rest of the hill. I hope if he tried to follow the sound of the car starting startled him off.

I'm anxious to get over there tomorrow and see how their first night went! I'm too pooped to even go back downstairs and get the camera to download the pics so stay tuned.........

Meanwhile...back at the first release site.

Hey...is that mom coming up the hill??

It is, it is!!! Come here guys...it's mom!! Hey mom....you got any food!??

Cat playing shy...

Grizz swinging around like a monkey!

Grizz and his sister Goldie.

Kodiak really want to play with mom! Here he does "the backward shuffle" before charging at me again and becoming velcro coon on my leg! I shoulda worn thicker pants that day, that's for sure!!

Panda strikes a pose.

Grizz and Goldie having fun.

Panda stopping for a snack.

After fun time with mom, they finally settle in to eat so I can sneak out of there.

It was tough getting pics of Diesel, Razz, Dozer etc. as they spent most of the time clinging to my legs, on my back, or trying to climb up my body. It's tough taking pics while trying to fend off rambunctious raccoons and keep the camera away from them too!

We have raccoons in the first release site!!

One down, two to go! We finally got the first cage set up and filled. Laurie, Lisa and I lugged the damn cage up a steep hill into the woods last week. Not fun! We finally finished putting it together and "decorating" it for the kids yesterday.

Today was moving day! We loaded up Razz, Diesel, Tank, Dozer, Cat, Mack, Goldie, Panda, Kodiak and Grizz into carriers and then proceeded to lug them and supplies up that steep hill!

Once in the pen the carrier doors were opened and the fun began!! The move certainly didn't stress them out and having a new place to explore was so very exciting!

A short rest on Auntie Laurie's shoulder.....

.....then back to running around like maniacs again.

So the gang is officially settled in and will have the next 2 weeks to get used to their new surroundings before the door is open and they are free to go.