Sadly, Raccoons in California, Foxes and Grey squirrels in the UK are classed as official vermin, and have little or no protection.

Isn't that sad? We take their habitat from them and then make
them the bad guys. Humans suck!

This is going on all over the world.
Lori has expressed this sentiment often.
WE expand OUR territory. Cut down the rain forests. Take every inch of land for ourselves. And then condemn the creatures that once called it their home when they invade 'our' space.

So true:(

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures

Sadly, Raccoons in California, Foxes and Grey squirrels in the UK are classed as official vermin, and have little or no protection.

Isn't that sad? We take their habitat from them and then make
them the bad guys. Humans suck!

This is going on all over the world.
Lori has expressed this sentiment often.
WE expand OUR territory. Cut down the rain forests. Take every inch of land for ourselves. And then condemn the creatures that once called it their home when they invade 'our' space.

So true:(

Yes, that is so true, people see empty land and then want to build, some when confronted with the facts that animals live there, don't like being stopped or being exposed for being ignorant and wanting someone elses home. Me I was going down the road Friedday to the Post Office, I'm glad it was daylight as a skinny looking ground squirrel popped out of nowhere to cross the road in front of Me as I was driving, the squirrel was going from right to left and had made it to the other side of the road safely.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I'll tell my raccoon story.

We also have two cats in our household. As such, I installed a cat door in one of our easily accessible windows. We have a large sitting area adjoining our kitchen where we sometimes watch television after dinner.

We heard a clattering sound in our kitchen pantry which I immediately went to investigate. Sure enough there was this cute masked critter helping himself to the box of dog biscuits therein.
My wife opened the door while I approached the critter. I commanded "GET OUT" while pointing to the open kitchen door. Instead, he looked at me and ran like a shot--flying through the cat door with a loud bang.

We never saw him again; although i suspect that he had visited in the night previously. I also suspected him of being the cause of my tomatoes disappearing from the vine just exactly when they were fully ripe.

This year I have planted corn in the garden again -I am hoping my male cat will keep him at bay since he is a champion hunter. Last year all of my beet greens were eaten while they were still very young--no beets. This year the cat brings in a rabbit or three each week along with a half dozen mice and chipmunks and the beets and turnips are flourishing.

Raccoons enjoy corn and my father-in-law, who lives in Wisconsin, has heavy corn losses in his garden every year thanks to my little woodland friends. I have never had a raccoon bother the tomatoes I grow in my garden. Some years they eat some of my apples.

Thankfully when I had a vegetable garden, I only had ants to contend with, the ants liked corn, now I know how to deal with the ants, though the soil in the high desert just isn't worth much without being improved, a lot...

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

We used to have a grape vine in our backyard. Most years we didn't get enough heat to produce sweet table grapes, but the raccoons never seemed to mind the tartness of those grapes. Eventually I pulled the grape out and replaced it with a lime. We like margaritas much more than we like sour table grapes.

I have come for your garbage... LOL!

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

9 Rain Forest Birds, neat...

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

9 Rain Forest Birds, neat...

Beautiful!

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~Sue~

9 Rain Forest Birds, neat...

Do they all poop together?

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

I was going to post this in the "bugs" thread but decided it didn't really qualify.



Just a snail.

But I liked the translucent shell.

Yesterday I went to Battesea Park in South London and managed to get this shot.



A grey heron giving me the beady eye.

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Beautiful pics Bernie! I practically see every detail...

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures

The Alpine Inn, Omaha. Come for the critters, stay for the fried chicken....

At first I thought that looked like a giant hairy caterpillar!!

Me too - we used to get some brilliant ones marching about africa. Knew something was wrong when I saw it's "legs" dangling beneath the "twig" :) Beautiful picture :)

edit... as are all the others too :)

Vic - great finds - lovely birds and a cute raccoon too!

Bernie - yes, I believe snails are technically mollusks. Beautiful snail and stunning heron!

Scarecrow Cowboy Dave - How in the world did Eric and I miss the Alpine Inn when we were in Omaha last fall???!!! We will have to return some day - perhaps for a football game involving the Mighty Wisconsin Badgers triumphing over your beloved Corn Huskers.

My oh my where does the time go? I hope all the critters in here have been doing well! It's a hot summer already, and that was to be expected. Time flies, kids grow, more grey hairs pop up, etc etc.

I quit my long time job last year in favor of a similar one for a different company. It was a wise and prudent move, the only downside to that has been the loss of almost all of my free time. Life is finally getting back to normal, settled in the new job with almost one year in already. I hope to participate in the conversations here again once in awhile, instead of just reading in my emails ;-).

hope all the squirrels, raccoons, and kitties around here are doing well!

-Dave

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#resist

Thanks Angela.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

My oh my where does the time go? I hope all the critters in here have been doing well! It's a hot summer already, and that was to be expected. Time flies, kids grow, more grey hairs pop up, etc etc.

I quit my long time job last year in favor of a similar one for a different company. It was a wise and prudent move, the only downside to that has been the loss of almost all of my free time. Life is finally getting back to normal, settled in the new job with almost one year in already. I hope to participate in the conversations here again once in awhile, instead of just reading in my emails ;-).

hope all the squirrels, raccoons, and kitties around here are doing well!

-Dave

Welcome home, friend!!!

Welcome back Dave:)

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures

Welcome back Dave or should I say 'Ex Moderator'. ;)

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's