Excuse me. May I have your attention for a moment, please? My name is Bayley and I'd like to invite you to a day in the life of my adopted sister Bubbles and me. We were each rescued separately, about a month apart from one another and we're being raised by Frank's sister Theresa, much like Sugar and Spike last year.
Bubbles is a bit shyer than I am. That's probably because she's older and wiser to the ways of the world...
... and Jack Russell Terriers.
It's been hot here in southern Ontario, so we've both been doing a lot of napping. Bubbles prefers to sleep on the shelf of the barbecue...
... or on its discarded cover.
I'd rather just chill in one of the Muskoka/Adirondak chairs...
... or get swayed to sleep on the hammock. Ahh cottage life.
When we're not sleepy, we're very curious. I like to play with shoes...
... and bottle caps.
Bubbles is a little more adventurous. She's thinking about trying those flippers on for size. They didn't fit.
That's not really mustard in that bottle. It's rum. No, I'm kidding of course. It's filled with water in case of barbecue flare-ups. Bubs likes to gnaw on it. Thinking about barbecues makes me hungry.
I LOVE bananas. A lot!
And watermelon sure is refreshing on a hot day like today.
I recently discovered that leftover pancakes make a great bedtime snack.
That colourful sunset tells me that it's time for bed. Thanks for spending the day with us. And if you decide to come back for another visit, please bring bananas!
71 comments:
As usual some great shots. I am glad they are at Teresa's house and not mine though.
They are amazing!! Looks like Teresa is doing a great job looking after them...
sweet
He is amazing model :D
Oh my goodness, I have just gotten my dose of cuteness this morning.;))
How cute are they?
I had a raccoon living on my porch for about two months when I lived in the US. It was amazing watching him, I used to give him water and bread. He would be out there looking in every day, confronting Gypsy, my cat. One day he was just gone, I have no idea why.
LOVED the clip; in Scandinavian raccoons are called "Washing Bears", this due to the fact that they tend to wash their food, which is clearly obvious in your movie.;))
Great post dear Hilary,
xo
oh hilary...these are the cutest pictures...it would be so cool to have a raccoon as a pet....
These pictures and the video were lovely, Hilary. I was hoping that was your voice on the vid. it would be good to put a voice to the Hilary we know and love.
I wonder...do wild untamed raccoons comes to visit, and if so do they mix with the hand-reared babes?
Your raccoon pictures always bring back memories of over 30 years ago when my husband to be's family took in two raccoons called Teddy and Martin. They definitely are interesting creatures to watch. Very comical.
Love these little guys but since my husband experienced some pretty devastating work done by two wild pet raccoons I am wondering when the time will come to return them to the wild? How will they do this since they have become so familiar with their 'home'?
Wow, amazing. They are so cute, and a lot of work.
Oh, they are just adorable...
OMG that was adorable. Thanks.
They are bandits, for sure. I also wonder how they will be returned to the wild, but I'm sure there are ways. They are definitely cute.
I've been afraid of them ever since I saw three of the biggest raccoons I've ever seen catch and carry a little dog down a storm drain, never to be seen again. I guess they eat everything.
I am enjoying seeing the photos of this little rascal.
they are definitely cute. Hope you don't want to barbecue anytime soon since Bubbles seems to have moved in.
That was lovely, Hilary! I liked the video, too. Clever way to feed them. I think the sunset shot is amazing.
Those little rascals are adorable, and so funny. Especially since they're there and not in our back yard eating cat food. They do LOVE cat food, and apparently bananas, too. Most of the ones visiting our yard were very large and intimidating. I was afraid for our cats, but the cats would just lay there and watch the raccoons eat their food.
Aw........ little shivers going down my spine!
They are delightful.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Wow, that was amazing. And that video had me smiling right through it.
Theresa sounds just like a proud mama to those 2 cuties. Your pictures are a joy, as always, and the video was a real treat! Thanks, Hilary. :)
I'm on my way to the store to get a bunch for them right now!!! ;o) So cute!!!
Bananas and watermelon are both best refrigerated -- trust me.
oooooh BABIES! :)
Around here, they are nothing but pests. But yours are so cute!
oh my word they are just too adorable. those eyes! i can't take it! love hammock shot.
They are so cute! We have a family raccoon story (from Phoenix, of all places). They are big eaters, and not too finicky, aren't they?
Adorable! The video was so cute, and the photos are great!
That was absolutely the cutest post I've seen in a while! Thank you so much for sharing. I've been wondering about the little kits. So nice to know they love bananas and have found someone as wonderful as Frank's sister to be there for them!
You made my day, Hilary!
This made my day! What a happy, sweet post. And that watermelon picture-- fabulous!
Thanks for sharing Hilary,
jj
I'm going through some rough times at the moment and this was the perfect pick-me-up! Wonderful pictures, great video and just the most enjoyable read. It made me feel human again! Those critters are just too cute.
Thank you!
Tom
PS. Sorry, I'm sure this is a stupid question, but why is their food in a large bowl of water?
I don't know very much about raccoons!
Tom
A wonderful picture story Hilary! Two pictures were not there though - in case you were not aware... - Dave
I've just fallen in love! Isn't Benny well behaved around them? The video and your wonderful photography makes me feel I am actually there with you - what a beautiful post!
That is awesome! What great fun! How sweet they are.
Oh. My. Word!!!! I had to have my boys come over and check out all the pics. They are in love! They don't want a dog anymore, they want a baby raccoon. HA! I think I'd have a real hard time convincing the hubby to agree to that considering he doesn't even want a dog! HAHA!
What a little beauty!!!! Thanks for sharing with us! :)
Wonderfull photos as usual Hilary...but a pretty story to go with them!
Wow: This was such a treat for me, Hilary! Great photography with video!! I was raised to believe that these critters could bite and be dangerous. What a nice day!
Oh! They are adorable!! And he sure loves bananas!! So cute. Loved the video of them fishing for their food!!
Hugs
SueAnn
this was so charming! Do they go back to the woods when they're grown or do they stay close to Teresa's place?
Love the video and all the pictures. They really show their personality.
Beautiful sunset shot too.
Seems Benny has a healthy respect for the two too.
Sooo cute! Great shots.
Unfortunately my broadband is playing up so I can't view the video but loved the photos (once they'd loaded! Boy is my ISP gonna get it...)
Wonderful!
This should be a children's book, Hilary. Seriously.
Wow, that is just a fantastic post!!!
Wish life was like that for everyone everyday!
Oh my gosh they are ADORABLE! Your photos of them are fantastic, too (not that I'm surprised). It's hard to pick out a favorite from this batch, but I really liked the one on the Adirondack chair and the one at the end on the dock looking out on the water.
Ahhh, such great shots! They remind me of that John Candy movie where the critters kept getting in their trash cans. Well, these are cuter! :)
these almost convince me to like racoons,
almost.
I love the photos.
Just hate getting surprised in the dark by these rascals.
Great photos.
Ha, bottle caps and interesting shoes are popular with our little ones as well.
Teresa must be brave and up-to-date with her shots.
Hilary: I think those raccoons are spoiled. You certainly got some neat photos.
• Grayquill, I hoped to win you over with these - to evoke at least an "awww, they're
cute." You're a tough customer. ;) Thanks for stoppign by. :)
• ED, she sure is. She knows her stuff. :)
• Kazia, thanks for stopping by. :)
• Zuzana, they're such wonderful creatures but feeding wild raccoons is never a really good
idea because they do become very demanding. They're very bold. I hope your raccoon
disappeared because somebody else was feeding him shrimp. ;) "Washing bear" is just the
perfect name for them but as much as they appear to be washing, they're really just wetting
the food. They get a lot of information from touch rather than sight and can glean more from
moist food than dry. They sure are fun to watch though. :)
• Thanks, Brian. They are indeed cuties but they really don't make great pets. These guys
are in Theresa's foster care just until they're old enough to fend for themselves. As soon
as they reach sexual maturity, they become very difficult unless altered. They're really not
meant to be pets but they sure are sweet while they're young. :)
• Moannie, thanks kindly. That's mostly Theresa's voice you hear in the video. I sent you a
link to another one that's all mine though. I hope you received it. The hope is that
eventually, these two will meet and pair up with wild raccoons. It's hard to tell which
raccoons are truly wild (from birth) or which might be earlier-released rehab raccoons. Last
summer I saw that year's releases hanging out with a third, older raccoon so they are
sociable that way. And it's good to think that the young ones can learn from the more
experienced ones. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• NJ, they truly are. And sweet and intelligent too. But you know that. :) I feel so lucky
to be a part of this experience. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Tabor they will probably be released up at the cottage, so that they can continue to be
fed when folks are up there well into October. The need is to really fatten them up so that
they can cope with winter. It's what was done with Sugar and Spike last year, and Spike
still comes around for feeding this year. He was a bit skinny when first seen in early
summer but he's looking fine now. We're hoping that the same will be for these two.
Essentially they live outdoors during the day now, but still come to people they know for
feeding and affection. By the time they reach sexual maturity, they'll only come around for
food, and will be wary of us. Time will tell but at least they have a great chance now. :)
• Very true, Steve. Theresa is so wonderful. :)
• Izzy, I agree. :)
• You're welcome, Leah. I know you're quite smitten with them. Who wouldn't be? Aside from
Grayquill, that is. ;)
• DJan, read back on my response to Tabor. They should do just fine.. or at least finer than
when they were found. Ack, that must have been a horrible experience. I can't imagine how
that would make me feel. I suspect that raccoons in the city are significantly larger than
in the wild where food isn't laid out for them on trash collection nights. Thanks for the
visit. :)
• Thanks, TechnoBabe. I'm glad to know it. :)
• Ellen, Bubbles moved on shortly afterward. We shared our barbecued shrimp with them. ;)
• Thanks very much, Karen. Theresa knows her raccoon stuff! Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Linda, we have raccoons around home here too and they try to get into the bird feeders. I
don't dare leave cat food outside lest they decide to move in.. again. ;) Thanks for the
visit. :)
• Maggie May, they're amazing. I'm quite crazy about them. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, HM. They're a fun pair. :)
• KC, she sure is. Thanks so much for your always kind words. :)
• SD, thank! Bayley will be so grateful! :)
• MessyMimi, how so? I prefer watermelon refrigerated anyway, and so it usually is. But
bananas? They tend to turn dark in the cold, don't they? Thanks for the visit. :)
• Gary, they're cute, eh? :)
• Debbie, they're pests when folks don't secure garbage, mostly.. or roof vents. But they
ALL started out this cute! ;)
• Lime, I know what you mean. I can't stop looking at them and touching them. They're just
irresistible. Thanks for the visit. :)
• True, FL. They're not too finicky but they do have their preferences - like Bayley and his
bananas. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, Baggie. They are kind of cute, eh? :)
• Nancy, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Theresa and the raccoons are all lucky. The kits will have a good chance for survival now and Theresa gets to know so wonderful critters. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thanks kindly, Joanna. I'm glad that it was a day-brightener for you. That's pretty much how I feel about them too. :)
• Aww, Tom. I'm sorry you're having a rough time but pleased that the raccoons brightened
your day. They're just too cute to not evoke a smile, eh? Raccoons feel their food more than
they actually see it and they take their cues from how it feels. Wet/moistened food allows
them to feel it better and I suppose the water washes away any debris that might be stuck to
it. Plus, these guys need to learn how to fish for crayfish, snails and frogs. This is a good beginner's lesson. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, Dave. I'm glad you like them. All images seem to be here now. I've loaded it on two different machines in different locations and there doesn't appear to be any missing images. Thanks for letting me know though. :)
• Thanks very kindly, Shrinky. I'm glad you could join me and enjoy the raccoons. Yes, Ben is (mostly) well behaved around them. He'd like to entice them to play, like he does with my cat but they just growl at him and back away. He usually respects that. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks very much, Bubblewench. I'm pleased that you enjoyed them. :)
• Thank you, Kat. I'm glad you and your guys got a kick out of them but you absolutely do not want a raccoon for a pet. They're not meant to be domesticated and these two are only "on loan" from nature until they can safely be reintroduced to their environment. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thanks very much, Jinsky. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
• Thank you, Michael. Yes, they sure can bite.. and hard. You don't want to mess with a wild
raccoon - especially if there a babies nearby. These guys were orphaned young so they're not too fearful.. yet. That will come. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, SueAnn. They are such fun little beings. :)
• A bit of both, Pauline. They'll be released at the cottage which will close down for winter. We'll all work hard to fatten them up by late October and they should be able to cope with the winter. They'll be very cautious of us, come spring. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks very much, Sue. I'm sure glad you enjoyed the little guys. :)
• Thank you, Thumbelina. It's too bad you can't see the video.. maybe another day. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. :)
• Thanks so much, Suldog. You're a gem. :)
• Thanks kindly, Q Smith. Life would be better if there were no orphans but I get your point and I really do enjoy these sweeties. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks so much, Kevin. I'm really glad you enjoyed the photos. They're such sweet critters, aren't they? :)
• Thank you, Lailani. I'm pleased that you like the photos. :)
• Deb, I don't blame you for being cautious about them at night. Most critters look a bit scarier at night but they're really wonderful animals. Thanks for your kind words. :)
• Thanks, Slamdunk. They're an awful lot of fun, aren't they? Thanks for your visit. :)
• Lakeviewer, I imagine she knows what she needs to be up to date with, if anything. Their healthy critters. Theresa is a very loving person - born to mother. :)
• Fishing Guy, they're entitled. By mid-winter.. they'll be enduring snow and sub-zero temperaturs so I suppose they'll feel less spoiled then. ;)
I am in love!!!
I completely enjoyed that. Thanks, Hilary, for sharing those beauties with us.
Beautiful images from creatures one is familiar with, yet has rarely an opportunity to get to know so intimately.
I would mention you for POTD!
excellent post ..hilary..love your blog//pretty nice contents...helps to learn some thing for a non-native speaker ....attractive and cool article(this post u wrote ) is cool as like my cool blog(of course name of my blog..haha)
http://vinothcraig.blogspot.com
(mines)
Well fiddle dee dee. I think YOU, Miss Hilary should get the post of the week... Everyone who agrees please raise your hand.
Di
What cuties!! Thanks for sharing the photos and the video.
I'll be seeing my raccoon family again soon. My figs are ripening, and they love them. I guess I should be glad I don't grow bananas! I'd never get any at all.
love that shot of B with the mustard bottle. I was a little disappointed to learn it was water. I'd love to see his reaction to mustard. Or rum, for that matter.
Oh wow ... sending a link to this to ToonMan and his daughters
Thanks for giving me a mini trip to the zoo. Better that they are free though.
Enjoyed the video. :)
This is just TOO wonderful! What a lucky bunch of bandits. I'll never look at bananas the same again! Thanks for sharing your day.
p.s. did I mention the cuteness quotient?!
They are so cute! I love the video and the sunset shot is fabulous.
Wow! Love this one!
These are precious. I especially love the one with da man--Benny!
this post totally put a huge smile on my face! your photos are like being right there with them. and that video...what a hoot...bobbing for bananas!
You're a regular Joy Adamson!
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
Reminds me of my last Ontario trip to rideau and a family that wanted our fishing poles !! ha great sanyd
Oh what a precious post!!
Great captures. The look in his eyes... great model indeed.
• Betty, me too! :)
• MJ, I'm happy to share them. They're such a joy. :)
• Merisi, thank you kindly. It is a rare but wonderful opportunity to know them, brief as it may be. :)
• Welcome, Maubrey and thank you very much for your kind words. Much appreciated. :)
• Thanks kindly, Di. You're so sweet. :)
• Pat, I'm glad you enjoyed the kits. And thank you for sharing your figs with your sweeties. They'll love you for that. :)
• Clowncar, you'll have to get your own raccoon kits if you want to experiment with mustard or rum. Ours just do water. ;)
• Daryl, I hope they enjoy them. :)
• Thanks, Anita. They're not quite free yet, though they will be as soon as they can manage. I'm glad you liked the video. :)
• Welcome, Nonizamboni and thanks for the kind words. They really are the sweetest things and Bayley eating his bananas is quite the treat for sure. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
• Thanks, Reb. Glad to know that you enjoyed it. :)
• Thank you, MPM. :)
• Thanks, Sandy. Benny showed remarkable restraint when it came to those raccoon babies. He wanted to play with them like he does with my cat, but he respected their hisses and swipes.. for the most part. ;)
• Jillsy, I'm so glad to know that the post made you smile. Bobbing for bananas (and kibble) is a great way to describe it. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Ha, Cloudia. Too funny. :)
• I Beati, a family of raccoons wanted your poles? Or the native Ontarians did? Welcome, and thanks for the visit. ;)
• Thanks kindly, Kerri. :)
• Thank you, Indrani. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
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