River's crew.

River and the kids are doing well and seem to have integrated perfectly into the native population out there. Many nights I go out there to find them hanging out with Ringer and Belle and all their kids! They are all very tolerant of each other and it is very surreal to go out and be tripping over moms and kits mingling around. Throw in Gibby and Scrappy and a couple other unidentified adults and I am just amazed at how tolerant they all are of each other (and me). Males, females, adults, babies....a total mix and a total contradiction to the solitary life described by experts in the past.

A daytime visit by half the gang allows for some nice family portraits.

Momma River and one of her girls.

All 4 of her kids, Howell, the only boy, is the black one.

Ringer and her kids were out there as well. She moved off with 3 of them but one decided to hang with her cousins! She's on the far right acting like she was one of River's own.

Howell left, River's 3 girls in the middle and Ringer's girl on the right.

Ringer's girl. She's adorable and looks exactly like a larger version of Springer with her markings. She is very distinguishable from the other babies.

It seems to me that "release" is a bit of a contradiction here......I'm tripping over more coonies outside the pens than inside some days! LOL

I wouldn't have it any other way!

Crazy weekend.....great visits!

What a crazy weekend it has been! Started off the end of the week with a double delight on Thursday.....Ringer and her sister Belle came in for a visit! At least I had my cell phone with me this time for pictures. Ringer greeted me on the path and followed me to the feeding platform and minutes later her sister came crashing through the bushes. That's Ringer in the top picture and Belle in the second....

Of course just because they came in at the same time does not mean they were exactly getting along! They were not on the best of terms and did not want to see each other, but at the same time they both wanted to say Hi to mom and of course get the little handful of chow I brought in case of just such an occasion.

So they came up with a compromise both could live with! LOL
Friday was full of cleaning and torching the main pen, now that the girls were moved out of it. What a project that was.....all day...ugghhh. But it looks great and River now has access to much more room to move about and have the babies explore once they start coming out of the den box.....if she ever lets them! Talk about your overprotective mom!
Saturday was even longer as Laurie and I took a trapping course that is required to become PAC (problem animal control) agents. All day long in a course about trapping and killing wildlife. It was difficult but necessary....now we can become licensed to legally trap animals in other peoples houses and get them outside be released humanely or reunited with the babies left in attics to help prevent so many mom's from being killed and babies ending up in rehab.
Thanks Lisa for taking all our babies to feed for the very long day while we were gone!!!
Sunday was full of feeding babies and heading to JoAnn's house to celebrate Laurie's birthday! It looked like a zoo with carriers full of babies that we all brought that would need feedings throughout the afternoon. We spent more time feeding all the babies than we did feeding ourselves! LOL ....and we were constantly getting new ones delivered while we were there!
Par for the course this time of year. That's why we always get together at one of our houses...so we can bring the babies that need to be fed and still hang out together at the same time!
Whew....I need a day off from my days off!

Friends, foes & moving day for the girls.

Still no visit from Vin yet, but Scrappy here is still making regular visits. He especially likes to show up when I'm out feeding everyone else. Hmmmmmm, wonder why that is??? LOL

After running into Scrappy I had the extreme pleasure of running into my Ringer girl! I had just thrown a little treat to Hissy out back and as I went to walk by the main feeding platform she came running down to see me. So I gave her some dinner and we hung out while she ate. She looks great and, as usual, despite not seeing each other for months, she was quite happy to see me and was more than accepting of a few scratches under the chin and behind the ears! How wonderful it is to see how well she has done since her release in 2006!!

Yesterday Laurie and I got the girls moved to the release site! After a frustrating, sometimes humorous (not all coonies turn around to bite you when you grab their tails to prevent them from getting up a tree after escaping!), sometimes painful (unfortunately for Laurie....some do when you're not the mamma and you're trying to grab them!) we FINALLY got them all packed in crates and shipped to the release site.

So in a couple weeks, Pip, Merry, Dolci, Stony, May, Amy, Moose and Kinky will be free at last! Maybe they can say Hi to Baloo, Cinn, Peanut and the gang if they run into them since it's the same release site.

My little red friends don't seem to be stalking the squirrel feeder as much....but I do occasionally have to chase one or the other off. I came downstairs the other day to find this one laying on the ground right in front of the deck. On top of the railing was a big fat (obviously very smart) squirrel....just sitting up watching it! OK....maybe it was actually taunting it! That squirrel knew to stay calm and sit tight....the fox wasn't getting it up there. LOL

I opened the kitchen window to "suggest" to the fox it might want to move along. As it took off across the yard, foiled once again, it turned and I got one last dirty look before it ran into the woods.

Instead of sauntering off into the woods as usual, I think it decided to test our intelligence a little. A grateful squirrel was not fooled in the least and opted to trot right past me into the woods while I stood guard.
Sorry little fella....I love you guys, but this is not the fox feeding station! (But it sure is nice to get such a close up look at such a beauty!)

Mom's and overwinters.

All the local Mom's are making their appearances. Ringer usually makes her daily visit around 7 or 7:30 pm. Our coyote was definitely a she....she went from big belly to big mammary glands...a definite sign she is lactating and feeding babies!

Some of the geese on the pond are being followed by tiny yellow fluff-balls and a mama robin is sitting on a nest of eggs in the bush at my front door. Spring is in full swing here.

Laurie and I finally got a chance to get the overwinters to the release pen! They were less than thrilled about the capture and transport....but were having the time of thier lives once loose in the new pen! Cinnamon, Peanut, Phoenix, Raquel, Willie, Ellie, Gonzo, Fozzy, Chicken and Piggy are one step away from freedom. In a couple weeks the doors to the release pen will be opened and off they will go into the big world! Sniff, sniff!

Ringer!

My Ringer girl is making appearances again....popping in early evenings before the gang. For those who don't remember her, she's one of my girls from my 2006 release and she's doing great! Every spring she starts showing up in the afternoons when she has kits and eventually brings them around too when they are old enough. I'm happy to say that even after all these years, and after not seeing her all winter, she is still always happy to see mom and say Hi when our paths cross!

The baby population here has exploded in the last couple days so when I have a chance I'll get to updating on 6 squirrels and many new raccoons!

Ringer has 4!

Ok, just came in from out back. Not too much activity around 10pm. After a couple minutes of talking out loud, Ringer came in to the coondo. Followed by 2 kits.....then another......so I was so wrong about her kit count! She took some fig newtons and scratches from me, but wouldn't settle.

Then I heard someone calling from the bushes. Sure enough she went out there, then came back and kept pacing, then running up to me for scratches, then pacing again. I decided someone was too shy to come in....so I moved away. Ringer followed, with 2 of her kits on her tail. A couple minutes later, I looked back at the coondo and there were 2 kits up there. One more good back scratch from me, then she ran back to the coondo ( with 2 very cute rolly polly butts waddling behind her) collected the 2 there, everyone met in the middle, then she marched back to me. She's got 4...boy was I wrong all right.

I can't believe it but all 4 followed her right up to me as she asked me for one last scratch! I didn't move to try to pet them or anything....I knew they wouldn't let me.....but they all came up to my feet for a curious sniff. Then Ringer took off into the bushes by the water and one call from her and they were quick to follow.

It was so comical to watch them. They are HUGE....almost as big as her already, and beautiful! What a wonderful mom she is....and a wonderful feeling to know she is doing so well out there and willing to let me remain a part of her life.

Tosser, Mo & Roxy join the big kids.

Last night was Tosser, Mo and Roxy's first full night out in the big boys pen! They have been having "play times" together to get used to each other. Everyone did so well yesterday....all day....that we tried the sleepover. Everyone loves the little boys......who couldn't, they're so damn cute!....and aside from a few tiffs between the girls.... Roxy, Growler & Tugger (leave it to the girls!) they are doing great together.

Mo enjoys the hammock!

Tosser the cutie!

Mo enjoys a snack & Tosser again.

The rest of the gang finds out about the snack!

Clover smiles for the camera.

Tugger finds the hidden snack.

Tosser and Mo wrestle in the hammock....what a blast they were having!

Roxy enjoying the treat before the invasion.

Group wrestle in the hammock!!

Enough with the pictures mom! (I only took about a million pics of them sitting up there!)

Roxy reclines in the hammock.

Teddy enjoys a a good chin scratching.

Ok mom....one last picture....and can I finishing eating now!

Last night ran into Screech and Popeye out back. They both look great and no new injuries thank god!! The night before Daisy popped up for a visit by the kids pen. She didn't stay long, but after I fed I went out back and ran into her again out there. Ringer was also there with 6 or more kits hanging in the tree. They weren't all hers....but it's amazing how great they are with kits regardless of who they belong to!

I think Ringer actually has at least 2 kits now. I originally thought only one, but last night when I went out, I ended up between Ringer and company on the feeding platform and a kit in a tree behind me. When it started churring anxiously because it was afraid to come to the platform with me there, Ringer went right over to it and she had one of the kits from the platform right on her heels!

Again, I didn't stay long because the MASSIVE swarm of mosquitoes drove me in!

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!

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!

Mom's and kits

Here they are! Finally a sighting of Belle, Bella and Macy! They hung out for quite a while down here and at one point there were a few mom's and their kits all hanging out.

It's hard to see in this picture, but both kits are at the bucket on the platform.

Here we have Ringer and her kit. I think she only has the one. I was out at 1am yesterday and found her at the platform along with a pair of eyes up in the tree. A little one too shy to come down. Seeing these pictures now I'm pretty sure she's just got this one.

And the lovely Daisy is still hanging around. I have been finding her hanging in the den boxes in the release pen during the days. No sign of the rest of the gang when I do get a chance to get out there. Daisy must have been grabbing a small snack before heading in for the day.... while there were no other mom's or adults around to hassle her!!

Belle gives us a peek & Ringer visits.

Well Belle finally gave me a good peek at the kids! Wow....look at how big they are. Look at Bella. I can't believe that's my little girl! It's such a beautiful sight. Belle is taking very good care of them. Awwwwww.....so very cute!

Bella is a little more rambunctious than Macy right now. Macy will catch up quick though...she's about a week and a half younger than Bella. Bella was trying very hard to get Macy to play here to no avail. Macy just wanted to sleep!

Ringer was here for her usual visit. She hung around for some yummy avocado from mom! It's one of her favorites! That and chicken wings. Good stuff for a lactating mom.

A quick high five for mom..thanks for the treats, and up the tree she went to hang out in her favorite knothole.

A lot of good news, and some bad.

Well unfortunately one of Buster's brothers didn't make it. The little guy that was injured had a visit at the vet yesterday. His injuries were nothing major, but he continued to decline and finally passed in the early hours of this morning. It's possible his systems were already shutting down. While his brother continued to loose that sunken eye look with rehydration, this little guy never did. Here he is after his x-rays with his wonderful vet, Auntie Ann!

On happier notes.....Tosser is doing great and growing like a weed! His right eye has finally started to crack open. He's getting much darker now, loosing that blond color quickly!

And we have Ringer on one of her usual visits...lounging at the feeding platform! There is a knot hole up the tree to her right and she like to hang out up there too! This is her time off from the kids while she has a meal and enjoys the view.

Buster will be getting a new roomate today as his brother will be joining him. He will be thrilled to have his brother back and some company!

The new kid & a few of the old!

Well here he is! This is Tosser. Someone tossed him out of a car window. A woman was kind enough to pick up the little guy and take him to a vet, eventually ending up in my hands. Aside from a little bump on his head, he is in great shape and eating like a pig.

As you can see, he is a very blond boy also! Couldn't call him Blondie though, already had a Blondie! He was Belle's and Ringer's brother as a matter of fact. There will never be another Blondie.

OK lady! I know I'm very cute, but that's enough with the pictures!! Could ya feed me now!!

Silly was out last night. She's definitely a mom! Her nipples are HUGE! Came for a quick visit and a little play with me then on her way she went.

Paleface was out there the same time. She snuck up on me, gave me a gentle tug on my coat as if to say "Here I am, May I have a treat please!" She looks great.

Red wasn't out when I was out there, but she made sure to say Hi and smile for the camera to let me know she is fine!

Ringer is still making her usual daily visits also. Belle and the babies are doing great. Had some sightings of Feisty and Smokey on the coon cam too. Haven't seen Dandy at all. But I'm pretty sure she was pregnant when I released her again, so if she has kits somewhere I wouldn't expect to see her for a while.

The overwinters are READY TO GO! We're just waiting on Popeye to be all set so we can send them all out together. Soon!!!!