Just a little addition to the bit about the raccoon … I have discovered that there is an entire family of these charming bandits living among the rocks … at least two adults have been spotted, and I found this one little chap, obviously smaller than the adults, eyeball-to-eyeball with a little fuzzball of a dog. Neither of them seemed interested in pursuing the acquaintanceship, but neither of them seemed afraid, either.
There must be a veritable warren of passages in and around those rocks; the place where the pup found this little guy was yards from the spot where I saw his parent enter. I was lucky that he felt so secure; it was a difficult lighting setup, but he held still while I adjusted things.
Addendum …
09
Jun
der Wandersmann 
ssalonis
June 9, 2009 at 12:06 pm
:up: pretty one
PainterWoman
June 9, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Such a cute photo of it peeking around the rock. Glad it stayed still for a bit. Usually, if I move to adjust my camera, whatever animal I was looking at is gone in a flash.
derWandersmann
June 9, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I think he was really curious … they're clever little animals, and "clever" doesn't come without "curious". And the doggie doesn't show, but they were about 12" apart … their noses, that is. And the sniffing doesn't show, either.
Zephirine
June 10, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Looking at that cute face I really can't think it can be dangerous. Anyway, you were lucky with that shot! :up:
derWandersmann
June 10, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Well, this one is just a youngster, so that makes prediction difficult, but if he were an adult, I think I would maintain my distance.They are wild animals, after all, and pretty scrappy when it comes to it … even without the threat of rabies, I shouldn't want to tangle with one.
studio41
June 11, 2009 at 2:06 am
very sweet
Zephirine
June 11, 2009 at 8:06 am
Well, I'd like to try to have it as a pet! :whistle:
derWandersmann
June 11, 2009 at 9:06 am
They are made into pets by some people. They are bright, loving creatures if reared correctly, but they have to be watched … they have a strong tendency toward obesity, and they are smart and charming enough to know how to get you to give them 'WAY too much food. As pets, they don't get enough exercise, which exacerbates the problem.They are also quite destructive in a home environment … they are smart, inquisitive, and they have hands. They are about the equivalent of a totally undisciplined infant, with adult abilities.Try ferrets … at least they're smaller.
Zephirine
June 11, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Some people use to have wild animals as pets here, too! Even wild bores become friendly and they act like a dog, but they're always dangerous. I'd prefer a small raccoon than a big wild bore! :D:D
solidcopper
June 14, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Almost as cute as a bunny. Love that ear!
Zulia
June 15, 2009 at 11:06 am
Owh what a cuuute raccoon! I like them and would like to have one buuut over here I need a licence for one and can only see them at the zoo.
derWandersmann
June 15, 2009 at 12:06 pm
They are cute, yes, but I think it takes a special sort of person to keep one and retain one's composure, to say nothing of one's property. And keeping the animal healthy is a problem, too … not that they are more prone to disease than other animals (though they might be), but they are wild animals and therefore always hungry. They are smart enough to manipulate you into giving them 'WAY too much food, and in a pet existence, they don't get nearly enough exercise … they're kinda like us, that way … and also kinda like us, they get very fat.I'm not aware of any licensing requirements over here, but these things tend to be local regulations, so each jurisdiction might have a different requirement, or none.
AgnetaM
June 19, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Really nice shot of a cute bandit! wonderful to have them so near!:D
GeraldHosier
August 12, 2009 at 10:08 am
I know how raccoons can be I had a dwarf apple tree and one summer I was just thinking how one more day the apples would be perfect, well the next day I came out and every apple was gone off of the tree thanks to those little critters.
derWandersmann
August 12, 2009 at 10:08 am
Yep … they're smart.
AgnetaM
September 2, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Nice little creatures!! And you have got it so great on that pic, you can almost see how curious he is!!:D
Merc1
September 5, 2009 at 5:09 pm
so precious!
Tabmartel
September 14, 2009 at 5:09 am
Beautiful little animal.Mugs has a family of them that wanders here and there.Then there's Rocky..a gigantic and very over weight old fella that eats the rat food left in the shavings when the rat cages are cleaned. Rocky has been around for years. He loves to sleep on porches and patios.Thanks for sharing the picture..the little guy is a cutie.:)
RedFreya
October 18, 2009 at 11:10 am
A natural photo shoot model. It could get a job with an animal modelling agency.:lol: 😆
SqueakeyCat
December 17, 2010 at 5:12 pm
😎 raccoons are fun to have as pets, but be careful not to come too attached to them. Make sure that they remember they have to rely on the "outside" for their food, and not rely on you for their food, or they won't be able to live their outside life properly.The off side to them being a pet, is they are packrats. Not just that, but they also can still turn on you in your own home, and bite you and hurt you as well.
derWandersmann
December 17, 2010 at 9:12 pm
To say nothing of the fact that they have HANDS! or the next best thing.
SqueakeyCat
December 18, 2010 at 8:12 am
true. That they do.