One of our neighbours dropped by this week with some small friends. Leslie has a cottage down the road from us. Her grandpa found orphaned raccoon babies on his farm in Haliburton. And, following one of their family farm traditions, they adopted two of the tiny things, bottle raising them.
We can understand that. There are few things out there more adorable than babies of any species, and the little ring-tailed masked bandits are undeliable among the cutest things going. Finding them orphaned and helpless, their eyes not opened at the time, we can understand why Leslie stepped up and took on the challenge.
They melted Dave and Brian completely. While we don't advocate the raising of wild animals, who are, well, wild and who will one day need to grow up and stop being cute and cuddly, under certain circumstances, we can see why it happens. These little ones will most likely end up living on Grandpa's farm, fishing for frogs in the small pond, and hanging out in the loft of the barn. Where they will be far too habituated to people, to be frank, but where they are welcomed and will probably make out just fine. That is always the problem -- what to do with them when they grow up... These are lucky ones. And they are not the first hand-raised raccoons that have grown up with this family, living on this farm, so all will probably work out for them
This week they are visiting at Leslie's cottage, learning about the lake (which was too big, and scared them to start with), playing with leaves and acorns and chasing each other up trees. Emma and Connor have had them into their school too, for show and tell, and that's all good. Anything that let's our city kids learn more about wildlife and interact with things natural is a good thing. We were enchanted with their busy little paws, almost little hands, grasping and exploring everything in their universe.
Named Sky and Sparrow, the babies tumbled in the grass, chased each other around the tree, fell off the picnic table, were hugged and handled, photographed and admired. Then, just like that, they did what babies do. Fell asleep, plunk... right there on the picnic table. Connor and Emma were despatched to collect their cat carrier case from the car so they could nap in that while driving home to the cottage.
And really, what could be cuter than a sleeping baby? Over the years, our Dad, Paul Tapley, had several tame raccoons, raised from infancy. Also a lovely tame skunk, named Flower, who would follow him about, and who was NOT de-scented but who never flipped a tail wrong.
We can understand that. There are few things out there more adorable than babies of any species, and the little ring-tailed masked bandits are undeliable among the cutest things going. Finding them orphaned and helpless, their eyes not opened at the time, we can understand why Leslie stepped up and took on the challenge.
They melted Dave and Brian completely. While we don't advocate the raising of wild animals, who are, well, wild and who will one day need to grow up and stop being cute and cuddly, under certain circumstances, we can see why it happens. These little ones will most likely end up living on Grandpa's farm, fishing for frogs in the small pond, and hanging out in the loft of the barn. Where they will be far too habituated to people, to be frank, but where they are welcomed and will probably make out just fine. That is always the problem -- what to do with them when they grow up... These are lucky ones. And they are not the first hand-raised raccoons that have grown up with this family, living on this farm, so all will probably work out for them
And really, what could be cuter than a sleeping baby? Over the years, our Dad, Paul Tapley, had several tame raccoons, raised from infancy. Also a lovely tame skunk, named Flower, who would follow him about, and who was NOT de-scented but who never flipped a tail wrong.
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