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My Summer Visitors

posted 7/11/2010 9:40:50 PM |

5 kudos

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tagged: fun, adventure, story, life

KitKat25

For the past 4 summers I’ve had the same family drop by for some extended visits. This family is quite cute, very furry and absolutely adores my cherry tree. In actuality…they’re not really visiting me…and they don’t come to the front door either. They stroll in very casually through a fence opening in the backyard…and then they proceed to climb up my huge cherry tree…and begin feasting upon the ripe cherries sprinkled throughout the tree branches.

My raccoon family usually visits several times a year…and they usually stay for an hour or two each visit. I enjoy their visits so much that I usually pull up a chair to the closest window and stay a while. This year was a real treat when I realized mom had given birth! She had this lil’ ole’ thing trailing very close behind her…and I’m talking cute…cute…cute…with a capitol C.

Now the baby was still a bit clumsy…and slipped numerous times in his pursuit of the perfect cherry. And of course...mom was right there to catch him if he slipped. All of the raccoons were amazing acrobats and never shied away from the tallest and skimpiest of branches.

At one point…there were 3 raccoons positioned close to the very top of 3 different branches…and these branches were pointing towards the sky. They had 3 of their paws wrapped around the branch like it was a fireman’s pole…while the 4th paw attempted to swipe at a huge cherry. Of course…all the best and biggest cherries were at the very top of the tree.

Now...there were a few mishaps and close calls…but the raccoons always seemed to stay out of harms way. And during their dinner at some point…they would even stop and pose for one or two pictures (not by choice of course ) when they discovered me quietly watching them.

When their picnic was over...they slowly descended from the tree…and walked single file back home...with dad leading the way...and mom bringing up the rear.

I’ve always enjoyed their visits so much…and I hope they continue to visit me again and again in the years to come.

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Sunshine79

Jul 11 @ 9:56PM

I get birds and squirrels....and they leave poop & pull leaves from my tree

StraddleMyNose

Jul 11 @ 10:03PM

This is a very cute story. Thanks for sharing this.

We don't see very many raccoons here in my area as we do possums. I have been seeing possums over the years in my own backyard dating back to 1997. It's been a couple of years though since I have seen any.

Kudo for such a wonderful story, Kat!

1bunny629

Jul 11 @ 10:09PM

I love the pets that feed themselves, but they sure can become a .In the mid part of town...named midtown ...ha!...the raccoons are so over populated people have cages to catch them in. They walk down the street in the middle of the night and it is kinda creepy. They are huge!...anywhooo...why do I keep saying anywho...makes me sick...gota get over that. The coons are a mess and scavenge the neighborhoods trash and it is just ...well it's a mess.
I have my own problems with pigeons, rats, now ants and freakin chiggers...not to mention the almighty mosquito. Ho hum...life... ...oh and really big trees that sooner or later die and fall on house...

1bunny629

Jul 11 @ 10:10PM

oh yeah...I forgot...you make your visitors sound lovely...hope they stay that way. Hugs, M

soft_touch938

Jul 11 @ 10:21PM

I've had to anchor my trashcan to the downspout to keep the raccoons from knocking it over which releases the lid locking handles and what a mess they make! I think his fate is in my landlords hands and you don't wanna hear what that is...

When I lived in my itty bitty house I had a cherry tree in my yard that was loaded every year. I decided to pick a bunch, pit them and freeze them. OMG I'd forgotten what a pain in the ass it is to pit cherries...I never did it again and they weren't that good unless I could make a pie or cobbler with them and that wasn't on my program to do either so only a few of them were eaten and the rest were thrown out.

sugarnspice005

Jul 11 @ 10:21PM

I've got birds, squirrels, and rabbits around my house. I'll sit on my front porch at night and watch the rabbits. As long as I'm quiet, they go about their business. It's so cute watching them...they will munch, then hop around and play. Then, if one of the dogs happens to look outside, or bark, they take off. They are more shy than the squirrels.

whisperingcomet

Jul 11 @ 11:10PM

well said!

KitKat25

Jul 11 @ 11:58PM

Sunshine:
I get birds and squirrels....and they leave poop & pull leaves from my tree.

I get birds and squirrels too...but mine are pretty much potty trained.

Straddle: Thanks for the green cookie!

Bunny:
you make your visitors sound lovely...hope they stay that way.

I sure hope my visitors remain a minority because they are always so peaceful when they come for dinner...and I would hate for there to be raccoon gang wars in my backyard.

Softie:
When I lived in my itty bitty house I had a cherry tree in my yard that was loaded every year. I decided to pick a bunch, pit them and freeze them. OMG I'd forgotten what a pain in the ass it is to pit cherries...I never did it again

Been there...done that...won't do that again...as I was the chief cherry pitter.
On second thought...they do make good pies...so my arm could possibly still be twisted with the proper motivation.

Sugar:
I'll sit on my front porch at night and watch the rabbits. As long as I'm quiet, they go about their business. It's so cute watching them...they will munch, then hop around and play.

I buy apples and carrots...chop them up...and take them to a local park that has been dubbed "the bunny park" and hand feed all the bunnies. I absolutely love it and I try to get out there as much as possible during the spring and summer months. I hand feed the squirrels too...with peanuts I stop and buy at the pet store.
Oh yeah...they definitely love it when I visit their park.

Comet: Thanks!

somnium

Jul 12 @ 1:00AM

That was a cute story and will be unless someone tries to corner them- that someone, will then catch hell from the Raccoons, big time!

I have rabbits, deer in the fall munching on my crab apple tree occasionally, some large birds my neighbor thought were peacocks - they were wild turkeys...... kinda like...................HER!

Used to have a ground hog and family- they left seems like and still have my moles, only not nearly as bad as they were!

Greenie for ya!

Wordsofwit

Jul 12 @ 2:40AM

Cute story. They are definitely around here, but they are not seen too much as everyone keeps their trash cans in their garage, not many fruit trees, so there is not much food source. But there is a creek within 1/8 of a mile and a branch of the river with two. They usually patrol the storm drains and the creek.

RevDocLove

Jul 12 @ 8:15AM

Cool story Kat and some great comments too
I've had to stop a few times this summer as I was driving near my house
to let a mama coon and her four babies waddle across the street..
They're pretty cute until you see garbage cans tipped over

theSkwirl

Jul 12 @ 2:10PM

Stay safe though, coons can go stark raving insane on ya if you get too close.

KitKat25

Jul 14 @ 5:17AM

Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments.

I hope you all enjoyed reading my story just as much as I enjoyed sharing it.

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