We’ve been wrestling with a raccoon over who controls the various bird feeders on our deck. I’ve tried most of the tricks outlined on the web for thwarting the critter’s ability to climb up and vacuum out the seed and hummingbird feeders, only to learn just how agile and acrobatic a roly-poly looking animal can be. We’ve finally resorted to simply taking the feeders in around dark and leaving some seeds on the deck for a late snack. That enabled me to get this shot.
I did read that problems with raccoons usually pop up in the spring and then die off in the summer. The theory is the mothers are filling up on food so they can produce enough milk for young in the spring, a need that tapers off as weaning takes place. So I got to wondering – is that why are we the target of these munchie urges?
Tonight we confirmed (at least partially) that theory as these guys showed up.
The climbed on the rail because that’s where mom was right before she went into the feeder to fill up for the evening. They couldn’t climb the pole with her so they sat together patiently waiting. A little light didn’t seem to bother them.
Checked back later and dad had showed up, busily finishing off the seeds in our supposedly squirrel-proof feeder. Ah, the joys of having almost opposable thumbs.
Look at those faces – would you buy a car from this pair?
