Out Before Dawn

  It was still dark when I slipped out the back door to head to the pier.  I had to be stealthy as to not wake the entire household.  Had I gone out the front door, the old dog would have wanted to go but he has problems on the pier.  Better let sleeping dogs lie...  Had I gone out the west door, the grandlittles would have heard the squeak and jumped out of bed.  Better let parents get a bit of sleep.  So, I headed out the back door and let everyone enjoy a bit more snoozing time.  It appeared that I was the only one who could not sleep so there was nothing else to do but go to the pier.

  As I eased my way across the frosty boards, a strange squeaking sound greeted me.  I knew in a moment that  some baby raccoons were searching for breakfast on the mudflats.  There have been two little rascals raiding the compost pile for the past few weeks.  Obviously, their hunger had pushed them to search for little crabs instead of eating wilted lettuce leaves and eggshells from the compost.  As I neared the marsh line, I could hear the two squabble a bit.  Perhaps one had found a crab and the other wanted it.  My little friends were so busy fussing that they did not hear my footsteps on the pier boards.  The coons were oblivious to my presence.  

  After a bit, one raccoon meandered down the flats to enter the marsh but one cutie stayed near the per and let me watch his funny antics.  The raccoons are adorable critters when they are tiny.  This morning's duo looked to be about six to eight months old.  They were large enough to be foraging on their own although they may be returning to the den to rest.  The young will snuggle together to ward off the cold during their first winter together then will separate and go their merry ways.  Cute, little rascals!  I am glad I made the trek to the pier before dawn.