I'd want one but then again, I'm not too familiar with their habits and ways of life..

They are very dexterous, both mentally and physically. There is not much that a determined (or a bored) raccoon cannot open. You could easily leave for work in the morning and return home at the end of your work day to find your kitchen in shambles, unless you were very, very, very good at raccoon proofing everything. Even then, your raccoon would still probably surprise you.

On top of that, raccoons are even MORE active at night. Imagine trying to sleep with a raccoon opening doors, opening closets, pulling things out of your cupboards and knocking things off of your shelves all night long.

Additionally, smart as they are, raccoons are generally not potty-trainable. Raccoons like to climb up onto things and then poop. An indoor raccoon would be wormed (I would hope) to prevent the raccoon from pooping out roundworm eggs that can be fatal to humans if accidentally ingested, but I STILL would not want an indoor raccoon climbing the bookshelves in our home every time nature calls.

I love raccoons, but I firmly believe that they belong outside.

I'd want one but then again, I'm not too familiar with their habits and ways of life..

They are very dexterous, both mentally and physically. There is not much that a determined (or a bored) raccoon cannot open. You could easily leave for work in the morning and return home at the end of your work day to find your kitchen in shambles, unless you were very, very, very good at raccoon proofing everything. Even then, your raccoon would still probably surprise you.

On top of that, raccoons are even MORE active at night. Imagine trying to sleep with a raccoon opening doors, opening closets, pulling things out of your cupboards and knocking things off of your shelves all night long.

Additionally, smart as they are, raccoons are generally not potty-trainable. Raccoons like to climb up onto things and then poop. An indoor raccoon would be wormed (I would hope) to prevent the raccoon from pooping out roundworm eggs that can be fatal to humans if accidentally ingested, but I STILL would not want an indoor raccoon climbing the bookshelves in our home every time nature calls.

I love raccoons, but I firmly believe that they belong outside.

Oh my... Thanx for the explanation Angela. The more I read about the animal, the prouder I become of being a raccoon lover :)))

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures

I'd want one but then again, I'm not too familiar with their habits and ways of life..

They are very dexterous, both mentally and physically. There is not much that a determined (or a bored) raccoon cannot open. You could easily leave for work in the morning and return home at the end of your work day to find your kitchen in shambles, unless you were very, very, very good at raccoon proofing everything. Even then, your raccoon would still probably surprise you.

On top of that, raccoons are even MORE active at night. Imagine trying to sleep with a raccoon opening doors, opening closets, pulling things out of your cupboards and knocking things off of your shelves all night long.

Additionally, smart as they are, raccoons are generally not potty-trainable. Raccoons like to climb up onto things and then poop. An indoor raccoon would be wormed (I would hope) to prevent the raccoon from pooping out roundworm eggs that can be fatal to humans if accidentally ingested, but I STILL would not want an indoor raccoon climbing the bookshelves in our home every time nature calls.

I love raccoons, but I firmly believe that they belong outside.

I'll stick to Cats, potty training is a cinch and Grace I trust.

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

Raccoon's like climbing on things do they? :)

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Member of the People Encouraging Niceness In Society club.

Raccoon's like climbing on things do they? :)

Teamwork:)

Raccoon's like climbing on things do they? :)

A charming story, but no surprise here.

If you can't beat 'em, feed 'em!!!

Raccoon's like climbing on things do they? :)

Amazing.

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~Sue~

Grace has been sneezing today, started this morning, He head feels warm, at least compared to the rest of Her body, the heater is on, if it's a cold, it'll take 4-5 days I've read for that to clear up and I've not seen any discharge. Could be dust or a reaction to the guy who came through here yesterday, maybe it's an allergy problem. She eats like a horse, wants affection, as usual, isn't pawing at Her face.

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

Raccoon's like climbing on things do they? :)

I like the last line in the story: "We need more cameras in the woods. Who knows how much animal comedy is wasted on animals."

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

Job title: Critter Ridder.

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Member of the People Encouraging Niceness In Society club.

Critter?
Doesn't that means a living creature; an animal.

What a sad story. I doubt the wildlife rescue shelter bothered to even try and keep such young raccoons alive. It is a shame that the babies could not be relocated with their mother.

Hummingbird Status update, still doing very well. Getting a mix of nectar and protein per vet recommendation. Has trained his keeper to feed him when he chirps. Now he just needs time to molt and grow a new set of feathers. Oh and maybe stop jumping off the high branch in his habitat and doing a flaceplant when his wings won't hold him. Although him trying may be very good exercise to keep his wing muscles in tone.

I have a feeling it will be status quo for some time. I'll try and update if I hear about any changes.

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Gary I am so impressed by this happy bird news! I would have guessed that given their high metabolism, hummers would need to be fed too often for them to be kept easily/successfully in captivity. Your friend must be a very talented and dedicated animal rehab person.

“I think I’ll pass on the barbecue raccoon”

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Member of the People Encouraging Niceness In Society club.

And then there are the rabbits in Australia......

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

And then there are the rabbits in Australia......

And in Gotland, the big island in the Baltic Sea...
Hares and foxes are also competing with each others all over the world...

I put hummingbird feeders out every year for the rubythroated hummers
that migrate through and breed in this area. I seem always have a nice
number of rubythroats each year. One year I even managed to see a
migrating Rufous at one of my feeders.

This year I have a new and interesting hummer at the feeder in my
back yard. I suspect it is a rubythroat simply because that would be
the most logical. But it is gray (or grey for you non-Americans)
rather than green. I have no idea why it would appear this way. If it
were white or albino I could understand or explain. But gray? I've
never heard of this.

I'm uploading a video to YouTube that will appear at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ge7HQeiqGA if you'd like
to go watch. It's about 40 seconds long.

Here are a couple of stills that I managed to get with a zoom lens. It
wasn't easy to focus on the little fella!

Any info on this coloring would be appreciated.


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~Sue~

The USA see raccoons as vermin in the same way as the UK see foxes. A pox on all of them.

Oh contraire, I doubt everyone in the US does Chris, if Raccoons stay outside and out of trouble, most are fine with them.

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

Sue, perhaps this is the answer to your question?

http://www.ibabuzz.com/garybogue/2012/07/10/what-is-this-light-colored-hummingbird/

This condition may also account for Snowball, my blond raccoon.