The grass is showing in places.

But we all know the month of March can be deceptive. Will we get another big blizzard? Time will tell, I guess. Anyhow, this is what it looks like today. A cardinal is singing his heart out - starting before the sun even comes up. Many other birds also making a lot of noise. Perhaps the robins will be back before too long. The raccoons are quite active though I can't yet tell if there are any young ones on the way, it's still a little early. I will post some more raccoon photos later today. In the meatime feel free to leave comments or ask questions. I will be happy to answer those I can, or refer you to someone who knows.

Jasper and Chloe

Jasper is Chloe's daughter from last spring. She still shows an interest in playing with things that swing - like the shade cord on the door of the retreat. Chloe displays a good set of teeth while munching on some tidbit. The realtivly warm weather for febuary has encouraged the local raccoons to wake up and head out looking for food. Another raccoon showed up last night, one thats a stranger to me. He or she was so cautious that I was unable to get a photograph. I'm still keeping my figers crossed that Alex will return one of these days.

I won't be too surprised if I spot the first robin sometime soon.

Chloe and Kimmie

Have returned after being absent for about a week. I still can't tell if they are expecting a new brood this season. But both are looking very well and they don't mind my company at all. We are getting a heavy snowfall tonight so I don't know if they will show up at the door of my retreat.

Chloe and Friend - last night.

There is quite a difference in size. I suspect the larger raccoon is Kimmie, also a visitor from last summer. Check further down in the Blog for the video 'Chloe 2008'. Now I'm wondering if both will have kits again this summer.

Chloe is back!

This is certainly Chloe. looking good, though she is starting to shed her winter fur coat. (Called 'cracking' in the case of raccoons). Though tiny compared to the other raccoon, she can stand up for herself. This makes the third year I have known this friendly little critter.

It's getting busy!

I'm now almost certain this is Kimmie. The smaller raccoon is Chloe. So far these are the only two seen since late in the fall.

The season is starting.

Mating season for raccoons is generally during the early winter. Kits (baby raccoons) are usually born between March and May. The male raccoons play no part in the raising of the kits, and in fact are banished by the females.

A raccoons fur can look quite ragged in the spring. Once the fur starts ‘cracking’ (the raccoon form of shedding), it can look very bad until the new, darker and softer fur comes in.

By April most of the litters will have been born. At this time of year the older raccoons will often be seen moving about during the day. This in no way reflects on the health of the animal. Mother raccoons will take a short break from her litter to feed herself. Later the baby raccoons will begin to explore during the day. They will revert to the night shift when they are about four months of age. Once the kits start moving about mom will bring them out to explore the neighborhood while mom eats. Later as they are weaned they will follow mom about while they learn what can be eaten and what dangers to avoid. The mother raccoon makes certain her brood behaves. Should one kit misbehave she will tell it off in no uncertain terms, and may even give it a ‘time out’ leaving the kit while she and the rest of her brood go elsewhere. And yes, sometimes she might give a misbehaving kit a swift swat!


Our northern raccoons are generally much larger in size than their southern cousins. An average weight for a fully grown animal is probably about 25 pounds, but some have been known to grow to about fifty pounds. That’s a very big raccoon!

This morning I had a visitor!

Just before sunrise. I suspect it's Kimmie, a big mother raccoon that was a regular at my door last summer.

Obviously expecting.

More to follow in the next few days.

Crystal Clear Night

There is something about the mid-winter moon, just past full and riding very high in a crystal clear sky. No raccoons are expected on such a cold night. Though they don't hibernate, they do sleep the sub-zero weather away. They store up fat during the summer and fall to tide them through the winter. As the temperature starts to rise in March the raccoon will begin to roam again.

Groundhog Prediction from the retreat.

I can reasonably predict I will NOT see my shy, but friendly groundhog tomorrow. It's just too doggone cold. (Scroll down a bit to see his portrait). He will no doubt be sleeping the rest of this cold weather away for however log it takes. Sometimes I wish I could do the same. (Smile).

Teenagers and Treat Time. October 8th., 2009

It was treat time for Alex, Jasper, and Growler, three of Chloe's four youngsters. The kits have grown to nearly adult size though they will not mature for another eighteen months. By now they are pretty well on their own while mom does her own thing. They have just finished a number of treats, mostly in the form of a few tea biscuits, and Milady is telling them she has no more.

Alex (female) is the smallest one sitting comfortably on Milady's lap. Growler (male) is the biggest and is begging for more. Jasper, the light colored sister, is looking on.

Before one tries anything like this there must be a long period of observation, and establishing mutual trust between animal and human. I live in an area that is virtually free of any threat of rabies, and certainly over the last three months no other disease has been observed in the local animal population. The raccoons that have dropped by seeking food have all been wormed, thus taking care of any potetial problem with roundworm infection. (Which can infect other animals, including humans. More on this subject later).

Despite the apparent bond, these animals are not dependant on us for handouts, nor are they so used to human contact as to carelessly approach other people who may not be so kindly disposed to their welfare.

The Old Timer.

Well, he looks like he has been through lots of wars! This is Bear. Missing teeth, torn off ears, and many scars - who knows what this fellow has seen, or how old he may actually be. His many scars may have been caused by many fights with other raccoons, dogs, or even a car. He ain't telling. He was however a regular at the retreat last summer. Bear was never agressive, but he was always very cautious. in reality he is probably just another gentle giant.

Raccoon Guys Hanging Out.

The male raccoons have no hand (or paw) in rearing the kits. In fact the mother raccoon will drive any away should they dare to come near the den. During this period the males will often travel together. This is a photograph of two such fellows that came by frequently last summer. Ths is Scar (on the left) and Bear. Scar has survived a very nasty infection on the side of his muzzle. It may have been from a cut, or perhaps an abcessed tooth. Though it must have been very painful he still managed to eat. Though it took over about six weeks, his recovery was full.

Raccoon have 'hands'.

They have the ability to use their paws very much like a 'hand' With a highly developed tactile sense they can feel around in near total darkness and find even small bits of food. Unlike a dog or cat, they will pick the food up in their 'hand' and bring it up to their mouth. In that manner they can keep their head up so they can see or hear any potential danger.

A local groundhog.

A very shy individual, and hard to photograph. He (or she) would generally pass by the retreat early in the morning.

A Winter Visitor

We are having a bit of a warm spell here, and sure enough that encouraged one big raccoon to come knocking at my door. I'm not sure who it is, it might have been Kimmie (big Momma). Anyhow I got a fuzzy photo of the event.Yes, I had a snack for her.

Chloe and family July 2009

The youngsters grow fast!

And this is Kimmie with her brood

Kimmie showed up again this year. She had five big, healthy youngsters. Kimmie is much bigger than Chloe, my guess is she is at least thirty pouds in weight. Yet, she is a very passive animal, not as outgoing as Chloe, but friendly.

There are birds too

Two other regulars to the garden.