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subego · Jul 25, 2008, 12:43 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aJZMunpgOtI

There's a 30 second dull spot at the beginning, but it's worth the wait. You can bail after the raccoon makes his second run (third if you count the one right at the start, which is hard to see).

Props to the little woman for the find.

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 12:54 PM

Hmmm... I don't care so much about the raccoon or cat, but that's one damn nice backyard.

subego · Jul 25, 2008, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Hmmm... I don't care so much about the raccoon or cat

Really?

I find watching the cat's offensive adaptations vs. the raccoon's swiping adaptations to be fascinating.

And funny.

osiris · Jul 25, 2008, 01:11 PM

I found the raccoon's hand-like grabs pretty intriguing.

subego · Jul 25, 2008, 01:20 PM

I found them eerily human-like.

Jawbone54 · Jul 25, 2008, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by subego

I found them eerily human-like.

Originally Posted by osiris

I found the raccoon's hand-like grabs pretty intriguing.

Exactly. I love this video. The raccoon seems pretty smart.

I love when animals portray some human-like behavior. This is why I can watch monkeys for hours.

Tiresias · Jul 25, 2008, 02:00 PM

Dakar the Fourth · Jul 25, 2008, 02:01 PM

Ha, there's a surprise.

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Really?

I find watching the cat's offensive adaptations vs. the raccoon's swiping adaptations to be fascinating.

And funny.

So you don't like that backyard?

Anyways, our area is infested with raccoons. I see them around all the time... and I'd just wish they'd go away. So I guess I'm biased.

Jawbone54 · Jul 25, 2008, 02:13 PM

The backyard is pretty nice. Mine gets no sun and water drains right out, so it looks like a little 1/5 of an acre of arid desert. I envy people like this.

Jawbone54 · Jul 25, 2008, 02:14 PM

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 02:40 PM

We get foxes in our area. Not very human like, but very beautiful... except when they eat the baby groundhogs.

I wish they'd eat the raccoons instead.

ghporter · Jul 25, 2008, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

I found the raccoon's hand-like grabs pretty intriguing.

Originally Posted by subego

Really?

I find watching the cat's offensive adaptations vs. the raccoon's swiping adaptations to be fascinating.

And funny.

Raccoons have hands with fairly serviceable thumbs, and they're very smart. Anywhere you want to keep raccoons out of something, you need to make that something pretty much people-proof to keep them out, they're that smart.

analogue SPRINKLES · Jul 25, 2008, 05:06 PM

That is practically every day in my life. Got baby raccoons in the garage that I want to leave.

Rumor · Jul 25, 2008, 05:50 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9tpsHzO1s...eature=related

My favorite raccoon video, even though it is fairly dated.

subego · Jul 25, 2008, 06:48 PM

Excellent.

Jawbone54 · Jul 25, 2008, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9tpsHzO1s...eature=related

My favorite raccoon video, even though it is fairly dated.

That's just 100% dripping with awesome. Fitting music too.

Tiresias · Jul 25, 2008, 09:11 PM

^ Now that's better.

Mastrap · 09:49 PM

I was sitting in the backyard this evening, relaxing with a glass of wine and listening to music when all of a sudden there's a tiny hand on my leg - and I am wearing shorts. I look down and there's a raccoon looking up to me, leaning against my leg with it's buddy sniffing the table.

I don't know who was more surprised, the raccoon or I. Anyway, after we had all calmed down we shared a late evening sandwich and then they went on their way to the next garden. I had my camera with me and took some pictures, but unfortunately I had a fisheye lens fixed, not ideal for wildlife photography.

Out of focus too, but with the ultra wide angle (10mm) I was holding the camera pretty much in the raccoon's face:

Sage · Jul 25, 2008, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Anyways, our area is infested with raccoons. I see them around all the time... and I'd just wish they'd go away

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

That is practically every day in my life. Got baby raccoons in the garage that I want to leave.

When we used to have raccoons a few years ago, we’d feed them. So adorable.

Mastrap · Jul 25, 2008, 10:11 PM

Yes, I don't mind ours at all. They come and visit pretty much every evening at about the same time. We also have a skunk living under the back porch, and a possum that makes the occasional appearance.

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 10:27 PM

They regularly sh!t on my roof. Bastards.

OldManMac · Jul 25, 2008, 10:29 PM

Hope none of you ever encounters a rabid raccoon, that goes crazy and attacks, and won't let go.

Tiresias · Jul 25, 2008, 11:17 PM

You have, OldManMac?

Eug · Jul 25, 2008, 11:20 PM

Raccoon Rabies - The Facts

It's a real concern around here. So much so that our gov't vaccinates part of the raccoon population.

Don Pickett · Jul 25, 2008, 11:21 PM

Opposable thumbs: 1
Claws: 0

OldManMac · Jul 25, 2008, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by Tiresias

You have, OldManMac?

I have not, but I heard a news story on NPR two years ago, about a woman who was out walking, when one went after her. It latched on to one of her legs, IIRC, and tore her up quite badly. It took quite a bit of beating the raccoon with a shovel or something similar before it would let go of her. It was finally killed, and it was rabid, and she had to undergo some serious surgery and shots.

I've been out riding my bike in a local park, where stupid people feed the critters, and have been approached by them when they see me eating something. It takes quite a bit of noise to get them to back off, as they are habituated to being near people. I once lifted a lid off a garbage can in the park and one was in the can.

Tiresias · Jul 25, 2008, 11:57 PM

That's worrying. I imagine it is hard to repel a raccoon attack without getting bitten at least once in the process.

Mastrap · Jul 26, 2008, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

Raccoon Rabies - The Facts

It's a real concern around here. So much so that our gov't vaccinates part of the raccoon population.

Used to be, but not anymore. Rabies has been pretty much wiped out in the Toronto raccoon population, mostly through the program you've linked to. Toronto has been rabies free for ten years now.