Sweetie & other happy stories.

Check out this wonderful story about a baby raccoon rescue! It's wonderful to see a positive story about people interacting with raccoons.....and a happy ending!

Here is a picture of Phillip & Michelle's friend Sweetie. You may remember she is the mother of poor Sammy I told you about, who died earlier this year, and who our little Sammy is named after. Like my Ringer & Belle, she is a very good friend who visits regularly! I love reading about others who have a wild family out there that they enjoy & live in harmony with instead of driving them off or running in fear! It just makes my day! (I'm not the only crazy one out there walking in the woods talking to the animals! LOL) Thanks Phillip & Michelle.

"I have known Sweetie since she was a yearling about 6 years ago. Last year she had 4 babies and it appears that 3 are still around this year. Her last set of babies was in 2007. She does not have babies this year. She lost her tail to a coyote attack back in 2007. I usually see her 3-4 times a week. She is probably at the feeders every night just at times I am not looking. Hopefully she will be around for a few more years but at 7 years she is getting old, though she does not look it."

And one more....in some states the wildlife removal companies actually save the animals they remove or get help for the injured ones....unlike here in MA where they kill them. (But that's another soapbox altogether that I won't get going on right now!) Kudo's to Muskoka Wildlife Control (and any of the other agencies that have helped the animals they trap!) for getting this mom and her babies the help she so desperately needed!

Just a little happy cheer to start the weekend :)

Spencer & Pinner.

The 2 youngest boys...and the last of the singles...are no longer singles! Pinner's quarantine is finally over and at long last, Spencer has a friend!!! Yippeeee!

Spencer has grown quite a bit and is cute as ever.

Pinner is a little older, but close enough in age to be a perfect playmate.

At first Pinner just annoyed poor little Spencer, pouncing and chewing on him. Spencer was a little less coordinated and unsure of himself she he just kept getting overwhelmed.....

...until Spencer finally figures it all out and one well placed paw to the face and we have the take down of the century! Sorry about the blur...the camera does not always focus well being on it's last legs and all, but it was still a priceless picture!

Both have settled in well now and are the only 2 left inside. Springer, Bama, Chester, Legend, Tumbler, Rizzoli and Isles have been moved outside into the smaller kids pen right across from the other 12. They are eating their formula and chow from bowls which has made feeding a little easier, but that is just a trade off for more cleaning. They are crapping everywhere except in their litter boxes now! As soon as I go through and clean it all up I move onto the next pen only to come back to find it a total mess again! Ugghh. They are all doing it actually! Instead of spending all my free time feeding bottles, I'm running back and forth between pens constantly cleaning up the mess and refreshing dirty water!

Is it fall yet?

Boy is it tough around here!

Well I'm glad someone around here can relax....pretty soundly too, I might add! This is Soldier & Troopers group. It's been really tough for these guys lately, playing and eating themselves into a coma and all! LOL

I told Laurie if anyone came by here they wouldn't know if I was a rehabber or a trapper if they saw this!

I guess they are entitled....after a very rough start in life and a rough future ahead, they should enjoy the peace while they can.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th!!



The outside crew.

They are so peaceful and cute when I quietly sneak over to check on them. Just Soldier this time but usually I go over there and there are 4 or so of them draped the other way over the shelf with a row of hanging tails facing me. Looks like a bunch of carcasses hanging there! It's so cute and so awful at the same time!

Of course then one gets wind of me and ALL HELL breaks loose and it's a mad dash to the door with me trying to get in and close it behind me before they reach it! When I have food with me I can usually get half of the gang climbing up my body to dislodge and focus on the food. But inevitably there are 4-6 determined little coonies that have to be pried off. The 4 littlest ones....Lucky, Ducky, Pebbles and Porcelain are still getting a couple bottles a day, but the rest are pretty much weaned eating puppy chow and formula from bowls  now.

Doc digs in. The way her hair is growing it almost looks like she has both ears.

Even though the little kids are still getting a bottle, they are still eating the puppy chow too. Ducky even contemplated the chicken wing...but thought better of it.

Brim

Sis..one of the clingers!

Trooper and his droopy ear!

Pebbles visits the pool.

No second thoughts for Sammy when it comes to the chicken wings! He dove right in!

....as did Soldier.

Porcelain wants to know  where her bottle is.

All the commotion attracts another very good mother....Ringer. I'm still not sure if she was interested in the chicken wings and boiled eggs the kids were enjoying, or the kids themselves. I was tempted to see if she wanted to take some of them with her! LOL

Lucky and Ducky enjoying their puppy chow.

Rocco

Soldier works on his second wing.

Trooper shoving vanilla wafers into his mouth....

Rocco finally decides to take part in the chicken wings.

Lucky tells  me not to come back  unless I have her bottle next time!

And there ya have it....the outside gang living large!