I wear a mask when I’m out and about, but in my mask, I’m not nearly as cute as this little masked miscreant. The only non-blurry photo I’ve managed, even with numerous sightings of one-to-three juvenile raccoons, happened as one of the critters bumble off from a drop-in at the pond for some tadpole sushi. As it scuttled from the garden, the young raccoon stopped briefly beside the mosaic dog that marks my beloved Asher’s grave, turned around and posed for the shot. I don’t think the raccoon is glaring at me, but I’m sure it was annoyed at my interruption of its bog meal.
I’ve dubbed the three siblings Larry, Moe, and Curly. The first few sightings were only of Larry and Moe, but on one occasion, Curly showed up too. A trio! This is about the time of year for Mama Raccoon to boot the juveniles out of her care as it’s likely she has a new crew to care for. Raccoons are prolific in their baby-making.
Raccoons, especially the babies and juveniles, are darling; the adorable face, rakish mask, stripey tail, and their irrepressible curiosity all conspire to produce the inevitable human response: awe, it’s so cute!! But it’s best to remember that while raccoons have a place in the environment, they are wild animals, they can carry disease, and they can be destructive. A few years ago a funny foursome of juveniles took up residence under our solar panels. We’d been traveling for a few weeks and I’m confident that the quiet of the house and garden encouraged their squatting on the roof and under the panels. When we returned, we spied their charming antics, chuckled, then set up a rooftop radio to encourage them to move along–which they all did within a couple of days.
A few weeks later, Central Texas endured heavy rainfall and flooding when about 14 inches of rain fell in a few hours–the 2013 Halloween Flood. The next day I noticed some water damage on the ceiling and along a wall in the dining room. While snuggled under the solar panels, those rascally raccoons had eaten through the shingles to the wood decking–though not beyond. As the heavy rain fell, some of the rain leaked through the roof and into the house. I’m betting they were aiming to set up camp in the attic; thank goodness they didn’t get that far. Fortunately, the damage wasn’t bad, but repair was required and it wasn’t cheap!
I’ve had a chat with Moe, Larry, and Curly, suggesting that they spread out far and wide, encouraging them to visit a variety of new and interesting places. I reiterated that they’re welcome to raid the compost pile (after dark, please!) and to check out the bog for tadpoles, but they are to steer clear of the roof.
Seriously, keep your fuzzy butts off of my roof!
I haven’t seen any of the three for a few days. Maybe my lecture worked?
Linking with Anna’s Flutter and Hum and Wednesday Vignette. Pop over for garden stories, which may, or may not, include raccoons.
My Gardener Says... 
Perfect timing! Spotted my very own More last night after weeks of unmistakable mischief.
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Yeah, if there’s mischief in the garden, look for raccoons!
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They are really cute creatures, but can be destructive. My front porch camera has been catching one crossing the porch at night. I have had to take down the feeders at night.
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They don’t bother my feeders, but I have seen rats a few times, so I also bring in my feeders.
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Even worse. I had a rat once that ate in the feeder in the daytime. He would not take the poison. Too smart.
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Fortunately, I don’t see them often, but bringing the seeds in each night as become a routine and if there are any rats, well, they won’t eat our seeds.
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I’ll add my voice to the growing chorus – we’ve experienced an accelerated level of raccoon mischief around our house overnight for several days running. It makes sense some newly boosted adolescent has been out and about, exploring every potential food and water source. The youngster turned over every rock, knocked over and emptied every single watering can and completely emptied a newly filled bird feeder.
Smart idea about the radio on the roof. Was it talk radio or do raccoons harbor ill will against C&W music? Do tell!
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Haha–I think I had it on KUT, so lots of talking, talking, talking. But, the radio might have been on KUTX, so jazz, etc. Don’t know which station the raccoons prefer, but they don’t like the sound/voices, so off they go to new stompin’ grounds. Good riddance!
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We’ve used a radio here for years to ward off coyotes. We bore them with NPR…
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Lol. All those dulcet voices.
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Ouch – your poor roof and wallet! Yes, they are nearly unbearably cute, but…. I had no idea a radio could scare them away! Storing that info away for the future, just in case. I do hope your mischievous trio are of the adventurous sort, so their curiosity takes them far away from your pond and garden. I would much rather have tadpoles than raccoons. 🙂
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We had several raccoons-messing-with-our-roof adventures. Don’t know what it is, but apparently, shingles are tasty.
The raccoons have also raided my SIL pond for tadpoles. So, no toads for now. 😦
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Wonderful! I hope that you are right about your little chat with the guys 🙂
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Well, you know kids–they don’t always listen. 🙂
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I confess I’m too fond of raccoons for my own good, but then — I don’t have a pond or a roof to worry about. I’ve not seen a raccoon around here, but my young possum has turned into two young possums. I tracked one to another building last week, and I think I know where they’ve set up housekeeping. During the hot spell, they seemed as interested in the water as the birdseed; I’d catch them just before dawn at the water bowl, and decided to let them be. Now that we’re getting plentiful rain, I haven’t seen them for three or four days.
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Me too. They’re just too interesting not to have some affection for, despite their continued interest in my roof! You’re right–both possums and raccoons will be regular visitors when it’s hot and dry, so like you, I always have water sources available, even though they tip the bowls over sometimes.
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Your title immediately reminded me of the way Coleridge began one of his most famous poems:
“It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.”
You came up with some other good phrases: “masked miscreant” and “tadpole sushi.”
I’ll commiserate with you on your roof damage. Some years ago a raccoon partially tore off the screening around an exhaust pipe on our roof, probably, as you said about yours, in an attempt to get into the attic. Our roofer fixed the damage and fortunately the raccoon didn’t come back.
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Raccoons may look cute, but they can be fierce. I wouldn’t want to get to close to one.
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The babies are shy and fearful, but sure, like all wild animals, it’s not wise to pet or pick up one. An adult female, protecting her young? That’s a force to reckon with!
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