Pet Update

The baby raccoons (kits) are doing well. There used to be 4 but one apparently hasn't made it.

There are 2 adult raccoons. The male usually stops by first - just after dark. Later, the mama raccoon shows up and after checking things out - calls up her kits. While adult raccoons will sometines den together, adult males do not help raise the kits. In fact, earlier in the season, the female and male would sometimes encounter each other on the deck with snarling and some actual fights. Now that the babies are born, the female makes sure the male is nowhere around before she brings up the kits.

When they drink from the small water fountain on the deck, the babies will stand in the fountain and wash up. The adults eat very carefully - taking one piece of food at a time, eat it, all the while keeping a watch. The babies haven't learned yet and just tackle the food - making a mess and a lot of noise (for raccoons). The one on the screen door is the most adventurous and often strays away from mom exploring on it's own. The other 2 stick close to mama.

I tried getting photos through the screen both with and without a flash but no success. So - I opened the porch door - mom took off - but stayed on the deck (she went to the water fountain) but the babes stayed. I don't want them to get used to 'humans' so I took 2 quick photos and closed the door.