Those folks who realized that “racoon” is an anagram of “corona” — making this hand-washing, mask-wearing procyonid the absolutely perfect animal for the COVID-19 epidemic — have too much time on their hands. And a warped idea of what matters.
I know what would make this all worthwhile.
If only we had a pandemic mascot!
Actually, I’m just jealous. My brain doesn’t do anagrams: I don’t see new words arising from others.
But I wouldn’t have seen this one anyway, because my spelling impulse is “raccoon,” which puts me solidly in the majority, apparently, but not any more in the right.
I’m not a big fan of garbage-tipping, soffit-ripping, bird-nest-destroying raccoons — however spelled and like they care — but I don’t mind them in their place: which place is somewhere far away in the countryside, preferably, as opposed to right here in my backyard.
But, and a hat tip to the Big Guy for the spot, I not only saw a whole racoon/raccoon family in our backyard — well, I’m guessing a single-mother household — I was able to get a few shots.
This adult had that flat stare that I associate with bears and squirrels. You know the one.
The lights are on but nobody’s home.
And if someone is home, you do not want to talk to them.
But the scientific literature takes a different view.
Raccoons are noted for their intelligence,
with studies showing that they are able
to remember the solution to tasks for up to three years.
– AskDifference
I wasn’t able to verify this claim with a pop quiz, but I did note their phenomenal climbing ability. Even the weans made it up and over our chain-link fence pretty smartly when mom said it was time to go.
Never mind how I feel about the adults. What I think of as a hard-wired appreciation of infants exposes its insidious nature yet again: Yes, even raccoon babies are cute.
When we lived in Toronto/Tranna we had a family of raccoons raised in a kayak slung up against the ceiling in our carport. The mother usually climbed up the trunk of our car, onto the roof, to get to her babies in the kayak. One time she realized we were watching through the window of our back door. Her indecision, as she tried to decide whether to reveal the location of her babies to possible predators, or to lead them somewhere else, was almost human. Shall I? Shan’t I? Raccoons may be pests, but I felt empathy for her.
Jim T
Jim T – Yes, I know what you mean about the pest/empathy. I try not to intrude but figure it’s my backyard.
“And a warped idea of what matters.” ha ha ha ha ha. You always make me laugh Isabel!
The video was a beautiful little touch. Pesky but cute, those little critters. I kept waiting for something ‘bad’ to happen to the little straggler…lucky he was in YOUR backyard!
Carla – I was too ascared of his parental unit to do anything bad to him, even if I had been so inclined. I was even more ascared he was going to get stuck in my yard . . . Then what?
neat photography . . . and even better composition
Barry – Many thanks.
Perfect mascot, if we needed one! Not the most welcome wildlife guest, just like Covid. But they are cute -ish.
Judith: LOL. Indeed. Maybe Covid will mutate to jump to raccoons . . . Sparing the weans, of course.