Since it was such a beautiful day, I brought one of my projects outside so I could enjoy the sunshine. We have lattice that prevents critters from entering the rose garden from under the house with several "doorways" cut for the cat to be able to enter and exit freely. On one side of the house however, the lattice is missing completely so even larger critters now have access to the area. I was sitting on the board path right next to the steps and faithful Ezzy was sprawled out in the grass next to me. Suddenly she leapt to her feet and let out a low growl. Hmmmmm? I thought perhaps the cat, Ms. Put, was under the house perturbing the dog. Ezzy's growling caused me to look up and........I came face to face with a raccoon! Eeeeek! I love most raccoons but this was a little too close for comfort! This was quite a large raccoon and it had its face pushed through the lattice trying to get closer to me! Aaack! Ezzy growled again and looked at me eagerly. "Get it, Girl!" Ezzy jumped into action and tried to protect me from the overly chummy coon! I thought sure she was going to smash that lattice to bits but she refrained and seemed to be satisfied bouncing back and forth at the coon while growling and snarling the entire time! The raccoon did not budge even with all of this rambunctiousness. I called Ezzy back to my side...the coon stared at us through the lattice and again tried to push its way through! That crazy thing was...wait a minute...crazy? I began to get a tad leery of the well-being of this raccoon. I had heard from several of my neighbors and from my two brothers that some of the raccoons in the area were found to have Distemper! Distemper..uh-oh....this was not good...not good at all! Out of instinct, I picked up a frog and threw it at the coon! Well, that worked...somewhat! The coon ambled slowly back under the house and I made my escape! Ezzy, as much as she would have rather chased that coon, obediently followed me inside. Thank goodness for that frog!
My hero of the day! Ezzy..."The Raccoon Chaser"!
Now before anyone accuses me of abusing an animal..the raccoon was not harmed even though I do fully believe it is very ill. I imagine that by morning, there will be a dead raccoon far underneath my house and within a few days...phew!..there will be the stench of a dead critter. (It makes me grateful that the Little Bayou House is high enough off of the ground that Son will be able to extricate the varmint!)
The plastic frog "weapon"!
AND..about that frog! I was actually in the midst of a "wildlife" preservation act when the whole situation occurred! I did throw a frog but in this dire instance, I should be fully exonerated from this accusation! To be fully honest, even though I truly threw a frog it was a plastic yard ornament! The "wildlife" preservation act was me applying a thick coat of paste wax to all of the plastic critters that I inadvertently fell heir to thanks to the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina. A number of decoys and yard decorations were washed into my yard so I made use of them and decorated around the Dragonfly Pond. Among the throng of animals and birds was a nice, hefty frog! It was this plastic frog that was in my hand when the raccoon made its eerie entrance into my "space" so...I flung that waxy frog right at him! Enough said! The frog was not injured because it was merely a plastic version of a critter but it did ply perfectly well as a weapon! I supposed I could say that I was saved from an evil raccoon by a frog and a dog!
My "wildlife preservation" project!
Checking with all I can find about Distemper, there are a number of reported cases in the area. I immediately called my veterinarian and was assured that all of my pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations! I could rest assured that even if Ezzy had tackled a sick raccoon, she would be safe! Thank goodness for all of the wonderful veterinarians and the care that they give to keep our furry friends healthy!
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