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Barnyard Buddies:  Herd of Raccoons!  |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 05:46:02 AM
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| A colleague of mine came in today all stressed because she drove through a "herd" of raccoons on her way to work. She said there were so many that she couldn't miss any and there was a lot of bummping and crunching (if you know what I mean). She thought there were more than 10! Has anyone ever seen raccoons herd up like that? I thought they were primarily loners or at most 2 or 3. |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 06:47:10 AM
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We have seen as many as ten together. Last year, I think it was late spring, our neighbor woke and so did we to a raccoon orgie in her driveway at about 2 in the morning. There must have been a dozen or so. We have had up to 5 teenagers in our birdbath before. They love to run in groups.
Anne in Portland, OR
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 07:06:27 AM
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| Oh yes! They run in herds especially this time of year. Several years ago, a herd came through our corn patch and ate it all in one night. They picked the corn, pulled down the husk, ate the corn and piled the cobs in several piles and then moved on. A gardening friend of mine, just the other day, said that a herd of coons 'harvested' his corn the same way. He could hear them and ran out to the garden, it was night but bright moon so he could see. He said there must have been 20 or 30. |
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Homespun Livin
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Brenda
Louisiana
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 07:17:59 AM
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Sounds like a family of coons. My uncles use to work in the woods cutting trees back when it was still done by chainsaw. They cut a tree and didn't realize that there was a nest in it. The mother was killed instantly, but my uncle brought home the nest of babies, still with their eyes shut and his wife had to bottle feed. I chose a wee little one for myself to raise as well. Named him Brad. He liked to ride on my shoulders. They are very cute and smart when raised this way, but if caught wild they are very mean!! I can understand her being stressed out like that. I believe I would have been crying my eyeballs out.
"Love one another." |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4754 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4754 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 09:42:41 AM
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I hit a "herd of raccoons" coming home one night with my son. I locked up the brakes, but they stupid raccoons spun around & walked back into the street. There was a bunch of thuds & bumps under the car. It felt really creepy beneath our feet! We counted 8 of them. They were really big, like the size of bear cubs. They staggered away, so I guess they were only dazed. Gave us the willies though!
Dawn in IL |
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KansasConnie
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
Connie
Atchison County
Kansas
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 11:55:45 AM
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What a horrible experience!
My DH coon hunts (he loves to work with his dogs!) therefore I know more about raccoons than I care to! Sounds like it was several families as a mama (sow) usually has smaller litters--like 4 or 5 kittens. Usually the kittens are born earlier in the summer so the sows were probably out and about showing the youngsters how to hunt...corn is plentiful. You are right about males being solitary though. Seems like if you find more than one adult (other than breeding season) they'll be females...sometimes they'll hole up in a hollow tree for the day together.
In the woods they can be very tricky and even outsmart the dogs on occassion, but crossing the road--not so bright. Too bad she started her day like that!
Kansas Connie |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 4:22:48 PM
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Wow! Who knew!!!??? Except of course a Sisterhood of MaryJane Farmgirls!!! I'll let my friend know she's not living with a pack of rabid urban raccoons in her backyard! (We read an article about urban raccoons in Olympia WA) Thanks everyone! Great to hear all your stories and know we aren't alone! You guys rock! |
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Barnyard Buddies: Herd of Raccoons! |
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Herd of Raccoons!
