Happy Birthday Laurie!

Wednesday night me, JoAnn, Lisa and Laurie(and most of the babies we are feeding around the clock!) all went over to Mary's house to celebrate Laurie's birthday. She's 29-again! ha ha

Mary had this adorable cake made with a picture of Laurie and her first gang of raccoons last year...the very same gang we are going to release this week. And it's hard to see in this pic, but look at the cute coonie hanging off the right side of the cake!

We all brought babies that had to be fed so there were squirrels and coonies spread out all over. Not to mention having 2 good Samaritans showing up with new babies to care for. Here a recovering patient checks out one of Laurie's gifts!

The New Family & other sightings.

I'm happy to report Belle and her new family are doing great. She is taking VERY good care of her 2 new babies. I got a quick peek at Bella and Macy before she scooped them up and turned them away from my view, putting herself between myself and them.

Popeye is doing OK. He's a little under the weather, apparently due to a slight infection from his injury. He is now on antibiotics and should be feeling better soon. He certainly has no problem avoiding us when he know it's time for his shot though! Plenty of energy then!

The coon cam has been showing a regular visitor to the feeding station around 1:30 the past few afternoons. I popped out back this afternoon to check it out. I had a feeling it was my girl Ringer. She did this last year when she had babies....showed up most afternoons around 3pm. Then showed up with her 3 kits in tow one afternoon.

Sure enough I'm standing out there and she appears like clockwork from the woods across the pond. She came right over when I called her and had her favorite treat waiting for her......some yummy avocado! Ringer also happens to be Belle's sister. We had a little visit and I got some good pics. I'll post them when I get a chance to download them! She looks great and I have no doubt she'll take good care of her kits wherever they are!

Red was out as usual last night running around like a maniac. Ran into her sister Silly too! I thought it was Red at first...they look identical except for their tail tips. They are even moulting the same. I couldn't figure out why she walked up to me, gave me a quick sniff hello, then continued on into the bushes! She practically ignored me! Huh! Then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and turned just in time for Red's usual assault....jumping all over me wanting to play! Ha ha She's such a love!

The rest of the gang still eludes me in person. They are not usually out until 2 or 3am on the coon cam! I am able to discern a few individuals out though and am confident of Feisty, Smokey, Sarge, Lexi and Goofball sightings.

The good that came out of this tragedy.

I am happy to announce that Belle is now the proud mom of 2 newly adopted babies. Raccoons are such good mothers, and Belle has proved to be the epitome of that!

I have her in due to her injuries. I brought Baby Bella out to the pen to see how she would react. All Belle had to do was hear a baby cry and she immediately tried getting to her. Having never attempted (or even had the opportunity) to try adopting out orphans to another raccoon mom, I was very hesitant to try for fear of her harming the strange baby. So after much contemplation and a lot of discussion and advice from some fellow rehabbers (thank you so much Dee & Matzo for your guidance!!!!!!!), and after seeing Belle's positive reaction to the sound of Bella crying, I decide to try it.

I anxiously brought Bella out in a pile of fleece blankets. I was going to leave her on the floor and wait and see how Belle reacted. Best case scenario she would either take the baby or just ignore her. Well I no sooner put that precious package on the floor of the pen and Belle was out of the den box, right to Bella. She gently picked her up, carried her to the den box and began showering her with motherly love! I cannot begin to describe what a beautiful sight it was, and it was topped only by her doing the exact same thing with a second single orphan my friend Laurie was fostering. She did so well with Bella that I went and picked up baby Macy who is about the same age as Bella (both are between 2-3.5 weeks old) and we went through the same routine. Our new family is happily encamped in their new home....safe from predators and worry.

So although I will miss spending time with my little Bella, I am so happy that Belle's grief could be replaced with new babies to love and care for. I won't be there to see Bella's eyes open, or record her growth each day with weights and get cute pictures as she grows....but she's with the BEST mother she could possibly have and I'll still be able to keep track of her. It just won't be as up close and personal as before.

So now I'll hope all goes well with our new family. They will be staying here until the time comes when the babies are old enough for mom to start looking for a new den. At that time the release door will be opened to allow Belle to come and go and move her family as she see's fit.

Night Watch

Last night a few of the kids were getting a last minute meal in before the snow started. Dandy and Siren were hanging around in a tree near the overwinters in the release pen.

Red was all playful and happy! She jumped down from the platform she was on, onto my shoulder and proceeded to bounce around on my head and play tug 'o war with my pony tail!

Then I noticed someone poking their head out of one of the den boxes. I checked it out and was happy to see Paleface...she was my first baby from the first group I rehabbed, and she looks great. When I went back down there today she was still in there! Could my girl be getting ready for kids this year??? Not sure if she was just avoiding the storm or using it for a visit, but I'll keep an eye on the situation and of course keep you posted!

Here she was this afternoon....poked her head out to say Hi and have a treat. This is the den box Belle used last year to have her kits in. Pale didn't have any babies last year so maybe this year she is ready!


Meanwhile the overwinters are hanging out and having fun. Turns out Daisy is going into heat and the boys are all over her. The other female, Foxy, is luckily not in heat yet!! Here she sits calmly looking on trying to figure out what all the fuss is over Daisy! What a cutie!