At the tail end of my run this morning, I spot a baby raccoon scampering across the track. Now most people, since it was daybreak, would assume he was rabid and dangerous, but I knew, he was just late.
Kids will be kids, even if they do resemble the Lone Ranger. 
I slowed up to watch where he was headed, and it was a tree a little to my left, so I stopped giving nature her due. He looked up to its peak as if he was about to climb Mount Everest stalling for time. If he indeed missed curfew, did that mean he’d be punished, sent to bed without a can to open? I knew I was no help to him, but thought, hey, I’d encourage him anyway.
As he started his climb, I said, “There ya go, now you’re talkin,” just to watch him slide back down like the tree was greased with oil.
Oh dear, now what?
I know he knew how because I’ve seen mother raccoons teach their kids and it’s nature at her best. She demonstrates, then urges, perched behind to catch them when they fall, and they do, same as any baby trying to crawl. This little guy clearly needed more practice, since he was still at the bottom.
Suddenly, a head pops out from the top of the tree. Mom, is that you? It was then he gave it his all and made it like a little champ.
“Yay,” I screamed, clapping for him excited being a spectator. Imagine, rather than reading National Geographic, you were actually in it.
So many runners whizzed by while standing there oblivious to nature and all her wealth. It was one of those rare times I could say, I like being this curious and willing to bear witness to all that’s around me. 
SB
We don’t have raccoons. I know they get a bad press but I’m sorry we don’t, just the same.
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I didn’t realize that. They’re fascinating creatures…quite industrious not to mention funny.
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I think they’re only in North America. I guess our nearest equivalent is the badger.
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Central Park has many you rarely see, only at night. I read about how they don’t like people because they’re shy. I can relate. Know little about badgers.
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I knew this video I’ve been seeing on social media all week reminded me of you for a reason! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XioOJLicOSw – we haven’t seen babies but have plenty of adult raccoons eating the cat food! ~Elle
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How cute is this. Thanks for sending. They’re fun to watch.
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We have raccoons, When we had the cat door into the screened porch they visited. I have to take in the bird feeders every night or they empty them out. They are little cuties though.
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Cute, little scavengers, and very particular. You must have had great bird treats for them to swipe them all. I love their hands. Paws?
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Very flexible hands. A lot like humans.
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It’s fascinating to watch them maneuver.
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You give some great play by play of the action. Around here we have so many squirrels that most people just ignore them. They go straight for the trees when you come by, but I like to stop and watch them, following them around the tree trunk as they hold on, assessing the danger. Animals are so fascinating.
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I agree. I like when they chase each other like they’re playing tag. Animals also live in the day so on top of being entertaining, they’re furry teachers. Thanks for reading.
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I know they can be vicious, but I love watching them. In our old neighborhood we had a large brazen one who would come out mid-day to rummage through our neighbor’s trash… hubby would go and shoo him off and he would run into the marsh to wait for another time. This raccoon was really big, like about two feet tall.. One day I saw the racoon in the trash, so, on my own I went out the back door and yelled at it. It ignored me. I tried again with a deeper voice, still nothing. So, I started to get closer to the neighbor’s house. I walked closer to the pond, yelling all the while. All of a sudden, I hear a splash! I look down, I scared the alligator who was sunning itself on the banks of the pond, but the racoon and the bunny (a bunny!) were just looking at me like I was crazy. With that I went inside and figured the neighbor could pick up his trash when he got home from work.
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sounds like quite a time.
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Susannah, what a wonderful thing to witness! I love stories like this. It pays to be aware to nature.
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Me too. Animals and babies stop me, literally, in my tracks.
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What a great morning!
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Awe, you of all people…you and Teddy, and maybe even Jack, would appreciate what I saw. sigh
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