Thursday I was ready to throw stale cornbread to the birds, and a cat caught the corner of my eye as it scurried under the car. I looked again and it was a raccoon! I have never seen one here! But there she was with three babies shoved up the maple tree for protection. She grabbed a piece of cornbread and headed up the tree, then back down, and behind her came the babies, and one by one they picked up a piece of cornbread and followed her off into the woods.
Last night as I let Sadie out about 230 AM, she went ballistic barking at something. I went out on the deck to see what it was, and up the plum tree with her face hiding behind the trunk was Mama.
I have a garden this year, and my onions were doing great until about two weeks ago, when it looked like someone had been laying on them. I blamed the dogs of course because the cats do not get to go outside. and then I noticed that the onions were dissappearing! I can only guess that Mama found a virtual feast in my backyard, and has been feeding her babies pilferred onions! I told her she was to stay out of my garden! ANd I wagged my findger at her to show her I mean it! She just looked at me until I finally got the dogs to come back into the house, then I went into the house, and as I shut the door, I heard plop, plop, plop, plop! as all of them Mama and 3 babies hit the deck heading for the onion patch! I wonder what onion flavored raccoon tastes like.
12 comments:
Sounds like you have a regular little wildlife preseve going on there. Those racoons can eat a lot too. Poor little critters...good thing they have you. lol
UtHoooo! Now that shes found a good source of food, she won't be leaving anytime soon if ever! You be careful Mary Lou! They are Nasty Mean when riled, and when she gets brave enough, Will Charge You! They are all over down here and considered pest. Just you be Careful!!
The Kitty is precious!
hughugs
Friends of ours had a racoon problem. They purchased Coyote urine at the local plant store and sprayed it around the yard. No more racoons.
Wonderful pictures. They look so sweet, but I have heard that they are good a thieving. Now you'll have to change all of your recipes to 'without onions’.
I like the wild critters, and hope they don't go hungry. But I don't want them eating in MY garden. The deer made such pests of themselves last year that I'm doing a lot of container gardening - up on the deck - this year. And I'm having wonderful success.
I didn't know any of the creatures ate onions.
Yeah, I know how pesky they can be. We have had coyotes around for years, and no raccoons, but the realtors are killing off the coyotes which unbalances Nature, and up pop the raccoons. Rumor has it that they are poisoning all the coyotes. Now the deer are taking over, and here come the raccoons. I have a 6' chainlink fence which keeps the deer away, but the raccoons climb it really well.
You have raised and interesting question. Since the raccoons have eaten the onions and you cooked them would they already be preseasoned?
Those are great pictures!! How lucky for you to have your own raccoon family in your back yard! Make sure your critters have all been vaccinated because Raccoons can carry rabies, but yours appear healthy. Put out a pan of water and they'll wash their food before they eat it.
I really dont want them camping in my back yard! I am having enough problem raising my veggies as is.
Watch out for your smaller pets as racoons will attack them, especially if hungry. Our problem here for Pat's flowers and the few vegies she has planted is with rabbits. Although they don't seem to eat the walking onions. I wouldn't be surprised if they chase away the feral cats and eat that food themselves.
Yes Dick, I know. That is why I am not really encouraging them to come back. They are cute, and I have been unknowingly feeding them. Thought I was feeding feral cats and kittens, and MY cats all stay inside. THey have NEVER been out. Sadie is so yappy that the raccoons run when she sees them. but if they ever tangled Sadie would lose I am afraid.
I would never have thought that raccoons would like onion. I thought onions would be pretty safe. Those critters are pretty cute! I know you'd like to have your onions, though. Guess you'll find some at the grocery. NJ
Post a Comment