Racoons Again
The pesky little devils are at it again. Night prowling, raiding any garbage can they can open, or investigating new things. I had hand washed some curtains, then hung them out to dry on a portable metal rack. When I took in an armful of dry curtains, I forgot to take the drying rack in. Big mistake.
Jasper and Tiny started to bark around 2:00 AM. I heard a crash outside. Using my powerful flashlight that I use for tracking strays at night with, I turned it on, looking though a window. I spotted a huge racoon, caught in the drying rack. The poor guy was trying to run, but his tail was caught. He was crashing around the back yard, with that rack following him at every step. He tried to flee up a tree, then headed over the fence. Neither worked, that rack kept him right in my back yard.
Jasper and Tiny were standing beside me. Jasper knows about racoons. He has tried to chase one, it stood its ground. Jasper was totally spooked by the thing. In the flashlight's bean I could see a lot of small bandit faces. They were watching the big one fight with the metal monster. Both dogs wanted out. I didn't want the racoon hurt, when he left I wanted him to take his tail with him.
So, I sat in the dark house, watching. The big one finally stopped him mad dashing around the yard, he sat looking very distressed. Tiny was itching to get at him, her body was tense plus she was growling softly. I told her, not a chance!
One by one, other racoons cautiously gathered around him. They used their paws like we use our hands, feeling and touching him. Pulling on him gently. examining the rack to find a way to help him escape. All the time they kept glancing towards the beam of light from the flashlight. The small animals tried chewing on the rack, pulling it around a bit as a group. I was enthralled, hoping they would be able to set him free. Other wise, I was going to have to have to help out.
One of them must have lifted it just the right way as suddenly the big guy was free. They surprised me by not running for freedom right away. His tail was touched by all of them, those tiny paws patting him, lifting his tail, touching each other until they slipped away.
Later I went out and brought the rack into the house. There were a few racoon hairs caught in it. I had to grin watching Tiny sniff and snuffle the new scent. One day no doubt she will come face to face with a big old racoon, for tonight it was nice watching them work like a team, or a family.
