Tonight after work I took a nap. By the time I awoke it was 9PM, a bit on the late side for the raccoons' dinner. I fully expected that some of them might be waiting at the back door, but I was not at all prepared for the sight that greeted me there: 4 fat, fluffy little kits and one big momma Heidi waiting patiently at the back door. They were so cute I could not suppress the laughter as I looked out at them.
I gather 1/2 bag of grapes, green this time as that's what was on sale, along with the customary cat food and headed out. At the start of the meal, 1 kit eating from the dish with Heidi, 2 were eating together from the dish beside the mini birdbath (some distance away from mom), and one was hiding in the brush. I tossed a grape to each of them, those I could find, at least. In no time at all the blonde one was running across the grass over to my feet for more. A few minutes later the one that had been hiding in the brush sneaked out to run over to me as well.
Of the 2 that were eating beside the little birdbath, one is very timid. After a short time that one scooted back a bit into the brush behind is less timid sibling. At first I didn't see him hiding back there, but when I through another grape to the sibling up front, the one in the rear stood upright looking at me as if to say, "over here. throw it over here". Naturally, I tossed him one, and he gobbled it up. For the rest of the night, he remained back there, standing upright every few minutes to remind me to toss him another grape. He was too cute back there standing upright behind his sibling, hands outstretched to catch his grape, looking for all the world like a little masked quarterback!
Yep, despite the problems posed by overcrowding it looks as though this group may learn to trust me after all. (I had been concerned that we might take a step backward this year just due to the crowd.)
Last night Dennis had been so cute standing upright to eat from the edge of the table beside me so tonight when I set things up I poured him a few handfuls of cat food there. Sure enough, once again, that's where he spent the evening, standing there beside the little table, barely able to see over the top, his little hands reaching over the edge to grab the bits of kibble. Even though I had grapes, he behaved quite nicely - probably because Heidi was nearby and has been quick to let him know to cut it out around the babies.
In my pocket I had a very, tiny 4.5in plush teddy bear marketed for toy dogs along with 2 tiny balls (about 1.25-1.5inD), 1 made of a foam type material the other plastic. Widget (my Maltese) doesn't seem to like those tiny plush toys, but I find that they are popular with the raccoons who seem to prefer smaller items for play. I tossed the little bear over near the pool, and one of the kits immediately ran over to snatch it up in his mouth before anyone else could get it and take it back to the safety of the brush to play. I am always amazed at how they clearly recognize these man-made articles as toys, but clearly they do for that kit was on his way to claim that prize before it ever hit the ground. Lately, I've turned an important corner with the kits BTW. It wasn't so long ago that they would flee in terror whenever I threw anything there way. I tossed the plastic ball into the pool and the other one beside it.
About that time a fight, and I do mean a fight, broke out with the others. What started with 2 raccoons soon ended up in an all out brawl with 4 or 5 raccoons tumbling and snarling this way and that. Hearing all this racket, 2 of Heidi's kits rushed from the brush and up the fence to the safety of the trees. Although Heidi's area is across the small expanse of lawn from where the others eat, she wasted no time getting over there to give those involved in the melee a sound talking to - in that same "ehm-em-Em-uh!" manner, I might add. I may not understand that language, but I was pretty sure I knew what she was saying, "What the @##$$% are you raccoons thinking over here?! Can't you see that there are children nearby?! Is this any way to behave around the kits?! Where are your manners?!..." And that was the end of the argument. Everyone immediately resumed eating peacefully for the remainder of the evening.
