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So I was just taking a walk the other day, and I turned my head and saw this guy. I looked at him and he looked at me. I pulled out my trusty cell phone camera, took a couple of shots blind — the glare was so strong I couldn’t see what I was shooting — and we continued our assessment of one another.
Chattering a bit to him or herself, or maybe grumbling, because that’s what it sounded like, it then climbed its way up and over the top of the fence. Given that it was a nocturnal animal out in the bright sunlight of day, exhibiting absolutely no fear of me, I promptly left it it to its climbing. I had no interest in playing the rabies lottery.
It went one way down the walking path and I went the other. I looked at it, down the narrow way, unconcerned in its stroll, its tail up, its stride steady and confident. People were coming. It didn’t care, on it went, the sun lighting the tips of its fur.
Maybe it didn’t have rabies. Maybe it was just a city raccoon with a rebellious side enjoying some of the day life.
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A Bit to Read 
Aww, he’s cute. But they can be mean, I know!
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Wearing an eye mask in broad daylight? Clearly up to no good. (How big are raccoons, anyway? I have no idea).
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I love raccoons. Haven’t seen any out here, only possums. They aren’t anywhere as cute as raccoons.
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No, there’s something kind of…off about possums, isn’t there? I think it’s the tails.
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It is. They have long pink tails like rats, but bigger.
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NOOOOO possums are gorgeous! But not at midnight if they decide they’d like to run across the roof or have an argument with a friend. they do make horrid noise! Racoons look unreal to me cause they aren’t native to Australia… we only see them in movies or cartoons… so they aren’t real. I remember seeing squirrels for the first time at the Grand Canyon. I couldn’t believe how tiny they were
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I totally get it, you guys have so many animals that feel completely like they’re made up! It’s so funny what you get used to.
Raccoons are pretty smart, too. They can get in any garbage can.
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O gosh just there on the fence! How cute but they sure are mean guys. 😮
Joy @ The Joyous Living
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Maybe it was blinded by the bright light of day, and had no idea there were even people around! Random encounters with nature are always intriguing.
Also? LOL at “The rabies lottery” HA!
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Haha! A rebellious city raccoon for sure!
~Katie
TheCyborgMom
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I think it might have been drinking too much and and staying up early.
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What a photo of that raccoon. You sure grabbed the moment!
Thanks for stopping by at Kicking MS to the Curb – and happy A to Z.
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Thanks! Yes, he was strangely cooperative!
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The females at my parents’ house sometimes come out during the day this time of year – I think they’re looking for food for the babies, and it’s easier to do it now when they don’t have to fight the other racoons (by “looking for food,” I mean stealing the food from my parents’ cat).
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That totally makes sense. It didn’t seem upset by me at all and it didn’t seem like it wanted to eat me…and it’s probably really used to people.
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It certainly looks it – my parents’ aren’t around many people, but they are quite bold. I imagine ones in a public place would put my parents’ raccoons to shame in terms of ‘friendliness’ and ‘lack of desire to chase/snack on people.’
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Oh they know the bounties of garbage come with the people…they’re not going to chase away their easy meals!
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Incredible!
I started blogging this month, and it is a pleasure that I came across your blog.
It has inspired me to start my next article.
Thank you:)
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Haha! Love that photo. Even if two minutes later that raccoon would come over that fence and steal my food, I still love the photo.
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Thanks! I had no food, but it definitely was heading toward where people tend to grill, so I think it knew what it was doing!
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I would TOTALLY play the rabies lottery which is probably not something I should brag about but I feel relatively safe in the fact that I have never won the lottery in my entire life so what are the chances I’d start now. And just to be clear winning the rabies lottery means you win rabies, right? Or is that a lose? Now I’m confused…. When do I get to cuddle a raccoon?
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Right before you win the rabies lottery.
Yep, by winning you definitely lose, and the way these things go, it would be the ONE lottery you do win, and do you want that one to be the one?!
Though I have to admit, she was kinda cute. Aside from the deadly disease possibility thing.
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How grand you got a photo of a raccoon in daylight. They are beautiful and wonderful creatures though they can be quite destructive. They dug through my neighbors roof and nested in there. Then they started digging through the kitchen ceiling. They were Lebanese and had no clue as to what it was. We had them call a service that extracted them humanly. I’ve had them peeping through the windows like they were watching TV. 🙂
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Thanks! Honestly, I think they probably were watching TV! You can tell that they know what’s going on. They seem like an animal that could be a pet…probably not a great idea though.
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Not a great idea, indeed. They can quickly make short work of of dog. My mom almost lost one to a raccoon. Too bad because they are so cute.
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