Driving down the highway, it’s midsummer and the heat is
sweltering. Quickly you roll down
the windows to let the cooling air flow over your hand and whip your hair
around. Farmers’ fields roll by and
the occasional cattle are seen. A
rancid stench abruptly hits your nose, interrupting your thoughts of swimming
at the beach, and you see a furry heap on the side of the road. As your car flashes past you turn your
head to get a better look as the flies buzz madly around it to see a raccoon
with it guts spilled out. You
contort your face into one of disgust, but it soon passes. It’s just another raccoon. No big deal.
Or as you walk to get the mail, keys jingling in time with
your stride, you hear some kids in a small field squealing with either joy or
fear – it’s always hard to distinguish with them. Almost instinctively you turn your head to see a group of
children crowded around something on the ground. Sticks clutched firmly in hands, they prod a heap on the
ground at they’re growing feet. As
you get closer you can hear the cries and words of the young ones. “Look at its guts!” “Ew it smells bad.”
and “What’s up with its face?” As
the crowd shifts for better poking opportunities at the rancid flesh with the
sticks you can see the tell-tail, well, tail that has the distinct brown and
black rings. You could stop the
kids and tell them to respect the dead, but you don’t. It’s a raccoon – a dirty, filthy,
fleabag of a creature. You
continue to the mailbox, the episode soon forgotten in your busy world of
facebook and twitter updates.
But have you ever asked yourself how the raccoon feels? The raccoon that is shot without a
thought? The raccoon that is
poisoned? The raccoon that is
trapped, skinned, beaten, abused, frightened, hungry and out of options? I wouldn’t be surprised either way if
you have thought of the raccoon or haven’t. Whatever you feel about them, please just let me enlighten
you on how fascinating this wonderful creature is. So sit back in your desk chair, get comfy and learn something
new about the underestimated creature of North America.
For starters, the raccoon is one of North America’s most
adaptable animals. It can live in
the mountains, cities, forests or farms.
Really anywhere. The only
other wild animal, in my opinion, that’s as adaptable and versatile as a
raccoon would be the coyote.
Many people who’ve had raccoons as pets have found them to
be VERY intelligent. They learn to
open doors, turn on faucets, open latches and control various other household
devices at their disposal. All in
all, they’re much smarter than any dog or cat (sorry you all you dog and cat
lovers, but scientists have proved it).
And then there is curious, but adorable, habit they have of
washing their food and paws. The
scientific name of the raccoon literally translates into “washer dog.” Instantly the humans relate, thinking
how cute and clean they are.
Although, nobody really knows why they do this (but most scientist’s
agree it’s for cleanliness).
Still, who doesn’t love an animal that’s polite enough to “wash” its
hands?
The playfulness of these furry critters is another charming feature. They’re forever getting into trouble by
exploring places they shouldn’t, or messing with people’s garbage. But when you have the curiosity like
that of three year old, everything becomes a toy. A stick, a hollow tree, a rock and maybe even they’re mother
provide hours of play. Who doesn’t
love to see the antics of young raccoons playing about when it reminds so much
of our own races offspring?
Fascinatingly, most of the raccoon’s techniques for eating
and handling various foods and devices are learned usually from its
mother. They’re not born with
instincts that know how to eat a watermelon or open a door, they have to learn
either from their mom or on their own.
But the noises they can make are incredible. Several times when I’ve left my window
open at night I can hear the raccoons growling, hissing and screeching at each
other as they argue over the food I’ve left out. They also have a softer array of noises that include purrs,
whistles and a type of whinny.
I can’t forget about their hands either! They so resemble a human hand that its
crazy. I love to watch raccoons as
they nimbly hold pieces of food and munch on them. I remember once I had put a pizza slice outside and a raccoon
was holding it like a person would while eating it! The little hands though are so nimble that can untie shoelaces
and pickpocket things like dimes from people’s pockets or click a brick wall
(as I’ve learned when I woke to one on my windowsill).
So what do you think of raccoons now? Still the same old pest or do you have
a new appreciation for these critters?
I certainly do hope that you see these animals more for what they really
are – incredibly adaptable, intelligent, curious and adorable animals! I’m also thinking of having a ragtag raccoon
trained to be a thief might not be such a bad idea when they can pickpocket,
open doors, are much smaller and quieter than people – and they even come
pre-equipped with a slick looking mask!
Hmmm, maybe that’ll end up on my bucket list – better watch your pockets
in the future!
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