The Tiny Vistor

  For the past few evenings, I have been shelling pecans.  It is times like these, that having a good friend makes all the difference in the world.  Shelling 50 pounds of pecans by myself is not fun.  Throw a friend into the lot and the chore becomes much more pleasant.  Darlene and I shell pecans and do a lot of laughing and storytelling.  It is great fun and the task gets finished in good time. The hulls of the pecans are tossed out the door so that the critters around the Bayou can feast upon any small pieces that we miss.  I figured that it is far better to let them eat than to waste the nuts.  Squirrels and birds have been having a grand time picking through the mounds of shells.

  This afternoon in the drizzling rain, a tiny raccoon was scavenging through the hulls to find its dinner.  The little rascal was so intent on eating that it did not even look up when I went out the door.  I eased my way to within a few feet of the tiny tot before he even realized that I was there.  Once he saw me, he tried to climb the huge oak tree just beyond the shell pile.  The poor little guy wobbled a bit and almost fell.  Oh, geez!  If a predator came along there would be no escape for the little coon.  I could have easily grabbed the little one from the tree trunk.  Ok, so the heartstrings were tugged and I knew I, at least, needed to help him a bit.  A nice handful of whole (cracked) pecans were placed at the base of the tree for the little coon.  At least, he would eat good tonight!  

  I am hoping that after a few healthy meals, the little coon will be strong enough to climb and forage for itself.  Being so tiny and weak makes one vulnerable as it is but with the coming winter cold, the tiny coon will not stand a chance.  As much as I get aggravated at the coons for eating from our fruit trees, I hate to see any living thing go hungry.  I might have to see what else I can find to fortify his diet for a few days if he hangs around.  Such a cutie!

The "New Pet"

  The new "pet" has made itself right at home.  Back during the early fall, three tiny raccoons were abandoned by their mom in the old oak tree. This tree overhangs the house so all night long, I could hear acorns pelting the rooftop.  Mama Coon knew right where to park those little ones to make sure they had plenty to eat in her absence.  During the daytime hours, the babies would often climb down the tree and wander about the yard.  I noticed that they would always clean up any food that Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princess Cat, had left in her bowl. Well, as babies have a habit of doing, the trio grew and became the same size as the cat whose bowl they were raiding.  Then, two were missing.  A traumatic ending befell at least one of the babies as the bobcat caught it. Hopefully, the end was quick and painless.  Probably not, however.  I never knew what happened to baby number two.  It just never returned to the old oak tree.  Baby number three had decided that it is much safer staying close to the Little Bayou House and has befriended its benefactor, Ms. Nycto.

  For the past few weeks, each time I go to feed the cat, the juvenile raccoon is there waiting for its handout as well.  The first night, the little rascal actually stole the cat's food...bowl and all!  Now, the coon sits patiently as I feed the cat and then ask it if it wants something to eat. Then, and only then, will the raccoon take its food.  If the little bandit gets frightened, it will scamper off the porch and down the steps but does not go far.  I can call to it and back up on the porch it comes. 

  I am not sure this is a good idea, though.  Just like babies growing into juvenile raccoons, those juveniles mature to become adults.  I do not need a full grown raccoon as a pet!  Actually, I do not need this little one as a "pet"!  It needs to wander itself back into the woods, find a mate and start a family far down in the creek bed.  For the time being, though, I guess it can at least grab a meal or two. 

  I do find it strange that Ms. Nycto has no qualms about sharing her meals with the raccoon when she has problems being in the same yard with the old cat, Ms. Put, aka the Bayou Queen.  Those two have a ritual of howling at each other whenever they are within a hundred feet of one another.  I guess the little coon is not a threat to Ms. Nycto's cathood!

Little Bandit

I suppose that I am just an old softy when it comes to baby critters..or even juvenile critters if they look at me long enough with some big, sad eyes! No matter what type they are, I tend to think they are adorable and, well..just have to feed them! This afternoon was no different than any other time and the little raccoon was no different than any other critter..it was fed. I know that these critters can grow up to be rather nasty tempered varmints but when they are small and hungry, I cannot leave well enough alone.

I had been putting seeds in the bird feeders and scattering some on the ground for all the hungry birds but this afternoon the little raccoon visited to get his share. It had been storming all day making the seeds wet and washing many of them below the leaves and grass. Seeing the little fellow try to pick up the tiny birdseed from the ground was breaking my heart so I gathered up a cup of sunflower seeds and a bit of cat food for him. At least this would make it a bit easier for the critter to munch.

He skittered away when I went down the board path toward the feeders but was soon back. I suppose that he knew that supper was being served. For about twenty minutes, he ignored me as I took pictures of him eating his new found meal. As I watched him, I was impressed at how adept he was at using his front paws. His long slender fingers could deftly sort the seeds and pieces of cat food from the leaves and sticks. He would then poke the tidbits into his mouth and reach down to search for another piece.

I wondered if this was one of the baby raccoons that was always hanging around the base of the pier. There were three of them this summer that would feed upon the fiddler crabs and bull minnows in the little tide pools. During the late Fall, I could only find one of them and I assumed that the other two had gone their separate ways. One little fellow stayed close and grew accustomed to my presence during my daily walks. I could see him peering from between the marsh grasses or from under the pier boards but he never ran far.

Although the little coon seemed to prefer the cat food, he did hang around enough to down most of the sunflower seeds as well. After eating his fill, he turned to look at me as if to say thanks before heading back to the marsh edge. I am sure with the stormy weather we have had all day, the easy meal was quite appreciated. Now..I just hope he remembers and returns the kindness this Spring by staying out of the garden when the cantaloupes and watermelons are ripening!