BABY RACCOONS' FIRST NIGHT OUT

I'll spare you the worries, but for right now the baby raccoons are nothing but cute. They are all so curious and we could get right up to them. However, I have to keep reminding myself that they are wild animals and NO TOUCHING is allowed.
I think there are three of them.

Baby number one.

Baby number two!

Momma is on the far right. Raccoon babies are fairly large when they emerge from their den because they have to be strong enough to climb a vertical surface to get out. They climb before they walk!

A baby raccoon's version of hanging ten inside my garden shed.

Out on the greenhouse roof enjoying the night air.

One of only two books in our library on the subject.

Rascal is taking on a whole new meaning these days. It's a book from my childhood.

A quote inside the cover of the book 'Rascal'.

The raccoons are cute, but.....

 life would be a lot easier if we didn't have chickens. Based on tonight's stunts and climbing skills, I've got to put a new, stronger wire on my chicken run. Raccoons are every bit as agile as monkeys (except monkeys can jump).

I watched one of the babies climb head first down a vertical yaupon branch as smooth as a pencil with no problems.

That's it for tonight. Most of you will be counting sheep as you doze off. I'll be counting raccoons!

David/:0)