Spilled a tub of grapes all over your garden? Who you gonna call? Well, there's no need to call anyone, as the critters will be along shortly to tidy things up :)

Exactly!!! The same goes with a tub of peanuts.

I used to just throw peanuts out to the crows, jays and squirrels in the morning, but I discovered recently that skunks like peanuts too, so now I toss a few handfuls out at night.

You just haven't experienced urban wildlife joy until you've thrown peanuts in the shell to a skunk. A skunk will do a "happy dance" when he encounters a peanut in a shell. Ok, ok... I know this is anthropomorphizing and that it is not really a "happy dance", but when a skunk picks up a good sized-peanut, he grasps it with both paws and this bio-mechanically "forces" him to do a little leap backwards in order to maintain his balance. This balance compensation move is what I call a "skunk happy dance".

I had not observed this behavior in skunks before discovering that they like peanuts, simply because I had never fed skunks something large enough to cause balance challenges. Seeds, cat food kibble and loose grapes skunks eat without having to take both front paws off the ground. Grapes still attached to a stem don't cause skunks to jump backwards because to extract the grapes they generally keep one front paw on the stem and one paw and their jaws on the grape. This keeps all four paws closer to the ground so that they don't have to rear up on their hind paws. It is only with large peanuts in the shell that I notice that skunks have to do a little backwards leap in order to secure the peanut.

As I said previously, urban wildlife teaches, delights and entertains, if one only takes the time to watch, think and study a bit.

If you feed them, they will come...

Spilled a tub of grapes all over your garden? Who you gonna call? Well, there's no need to call anyone, as the critters will be along shortly to tidy things up :)

Exactly!!! The same goes with a tub of peanuts.

I used to just throw peanuts out to the crows, jays and squirrels in the morning, but I discovered recently that skunks like peanuts too, so now I toss a few handfuls out at night.

You just haven't experienced urban wildlife joy until you've thrown peanuts in the shell to a skunk. A skunk will do a "happy dance" when he encounters a peanut in a shell. Ok, ok... I know this is anthropomorphizing and that it is not really a "happy dance", but when a skunk picks up a good sized-peanut, he grasps it with both paws and this bio-mechanically "forces" him to do a little leap backwards in order to maintain his balance. This balance compensation move is what I call a "skunk happy dance".

I had not observed this behavior in skunks before discovering that they like peanuts, simply because I had never fed skunks something large enough to cause balance challenges. Seeds, cat food kibble and loose grapes skunks eat without having to take both front paws off the ground. Grapes still attached to a stem don't cause skunks to jump backwards because to extract the grapes they generally keep one front paw on the stem and one paw and their jaws on the grape. This keeps all four paws closer to the ground so that they don't have to rear up on their hind paws. It is only with large peanuts in the shell that I notice that skunks have to do a little backwards leap in order to secure the peanut.

As I said previously, urban wildlife teaches, delights and entertains, if one only takes the time to watch, think and study a bit.

If you feed them, they will come...

Could you post a clip of your 'happy dance'?
I think we all really need to see that one.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Couldn't find a skunk dance... :)

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Member of the People Encouraging Niceness In Society club.

Could you post a clip of your 'happy dance'?
I think we all really need to see that one.

I will have to see what I can capture through the window panes of our back door. Skunks allow me to observe from inside, but generally run under the deck when I go outside. (Assuming, of course, that they have noticed me... Skunks have no need to be hyper-vigilant, as they have er... uh... "other defenses.")

I have never bothered to get a wildlife cam like SciMan Steve has because, well, what would be the point???!!! I can see my little woodland friends just fine from my kitchen door. I suppose I could try to set Eric's grossly over-priced camera up on a tripod outside, but Ol' Pookers may veto this idea, as Tiny Tim, our most regular visiting raccoon this year, tends to be a curious little fellow.

Still, I may be able to capture the essence of a skunk happy dance through a window pane. I'll give it a try anyway.

To give you an idea of the kitchen door filming challenges, here is a picture, taken years ago, of our back door. As you can see, Izzy (Chris' god-daughter) was up on a handrail, peeking into my kitchen, in an effort to determine why her dinner was late that evening!!!

Could you post a clip of your 'happy dance'?
I think we all really need to see that one.

I will have to see what I can capture through the window panes of our back door. Skunks allow me to observe from inside, but generally run under the deck when I go outside. (Assuming, of course, that they have noticed me... Skunks have no need to be hyper-vigilant, as they have er... uh... "other defenses.")

I have never bothered to get a wildlife cam like SciMan Steve has because, well, what would be the point???!!! I can see my little woodland friends just fine from my kitchen door. I suppose I could try to set Eric's grossly over-priced camera up on a tripod outside, but Ol' Pookers may veto this idea, as Tiny Tim, our most regular visiting raccoon this year, tends to be a curious little fellow.

Still, I may be able to capture the essence of a skunk happy dance through a window pane. I'll give it a try anyway.

To give you an idea of the kitchen door filming challenges, here is a picture, taken years ago, of our back door. As you can see, Izzy (Chris' god-daughter) was up on a handrail, peeking into my kitchen, in an effort to determine why her dinner was late that evening!!!

Cute pic Angela.

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

While I'm posting "vintage raccoon" pictures, here is another oldie-but-a-goodie of my little rail dancer.

The kitties indoors were Zsa Zsa and Eva when they were little.

peeking into my kitchen, in an effort to determine why her dinner was late that evening!!!

..or lining you up as an alternative perhaps?

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Neat Angela.

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

Could you post a clip of your 'happy dance'?
I think we all really need to see that one.

I will have to see what I can capture through the window panes of our back door. Skunks allow me to observe from inside, but generally run under the deck when I go outside. (Assuming, of course, that they have noticed me... Skunks have no need to be hyper-vigilant, as they have er... uh... "other defenses.")

I have never bothered to get a wildlife cam like SciMan Steve has because, well, what would be the point???!!! I can see my little woodland friends just fine from my kitchen door. I suppose I could try to set Eric's grossly over-priced camera up on a tripod outside, but Ol' Pookers may veto this idea, as Tiny Tim, our most regular visiting raccoon this year, tends to be a curious little fellow.

Still, I may be able to capture the essence of a skunk happy dance through a window pane. I'll give it a try anyway.

To give you an idea of the kitchen door filming challenges, here is a picture, taken years ago, of our back door. As you can see, Izzy (Chris' god-daughter) was up on a handrail, peeking into my kitchen, in an effort to determine why her dinner was late that evening!!!

First glance? Levitating raccoon :)

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Member of the People Encouraging Niceness In Society club.

First glance? Levitating raccoon :)

LOL!!! Now that would be a terrific raccoon trick!!!

Could you post a clip of your 'happy dance'?
I think we all really need to see that one.

I will have to see what I can capture through the window panes of our back door. Skunks allow me to observe from inside, but generally run under the deck when I go outside. (Assuming, of course, that they have noticed me... Skunks have no need to be hyper-vigilant, as they have er... uh... "other defenses.")

I have never bothered to get a wildlife cam like SciMan Steve has because, well, what would be the point???!!! I can see my little woodland friends just fine from my kitchen door. I suppose I could try to set Eric's grossly over-priced camera up on a tripod outside, but Ol' Pookers may veto this idea, as Tiny Tim, our most regular visiting raccoon this year, tends to be a curious little fellow.

Still, I may be able to capture the essence of a skunk happy dance through a window pane. I'll give it a try anyway.

To give you an idea of the kitchen door filming challenges, here is a picture, taken years ago, of our back door. As you can see, Izzy (Chris' god-daughter) was up on a handrail, peeking into my kitchen, in an effort to determine why her dinner was late that evening!!!

First glance? Levitating raccoon :)

Looking closely, there is a railing beyond the door outside, so I'd think the raccoon was partly supported by the railing.

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

If raccoons can, in fact, levitate, they learned it from cats.

That's my cat, too lazy to fall down....

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Grace and I take naps together, 12.5 years is what I've read is the average lifespan for a Maine Coon house cat, so I've got maybe 5.5 years left with Her, though I hope I have at least a Decade more to be with Her. Grace is 7yrs old now.

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

If raccoons can, in fact, levitate, they learned it from cats.

Hypnotic floating cat :)

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Member of the People Encouraging Niceness In Society club.

If raccoons can, in fact, levitate, they learned it from cats.

Hypnotic floating cat :)

I think We found ET.. ;)

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

[quote]Grace and I take naps together, 12.5 years is what I've read is the average lifespan for a Maine Coon house cat, so I've got maybe 5.5 years left with Her, though I hope I have at least a Decade more to be with Her. Grace is 7yrs old now.[/quoteA


Bandit, Tigger II and Purrball are now 14yo,.
All just as fat and sassy as ever.
I do visit Squirrel in the back forty now and again.
I miss that old gurl so much. She held my hand and heart for so many years.
Special bond, we had.
So many years together. Impossible for some of you to understand.

Cats and cats. I am at both times the master and the slave of them.
I cannot escape them nor wish to.

They are both my keeper and kings. They rule my world, and always shall do so.

That is why..........I am the kittyman.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

While I'm posting "vintage raccoon" pictures, here is another oldie-but-a-goodie of my little rail dancer.

The kitties indoors were Zsa Zsa and Eva when they were little.

I am sure someone with better photoshop skills would do a better job, but here is my interpretation:

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Reality Internet Personality

While I'm posting "vintage raccoon" pictures, here is another oldie-but-a-goodie of my little rail dancer.

The kitties indoors were Zsa Zsa and Eva when they were little.

I am sure someone with better photoshop skills would do a better job, but here is my interpretation:

Nice one Es!

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rOZZ
Music
Pictures

I am sure someone with better photoshop skills would do a better job, but here is my interpretation:

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!