Mother_racoon.jpg

Lovely.

Certainly is Gilli. Great phota Elke. Do they do as much damage as I've heard they do?

She really looks like she'e watching you Elke............

Well-spotted :o)

Great photo..looks so alert !

Yes they do do a lot of damage, Toto. They are known for being able to open garbage cans that are all but padlocked, mess up and wreck the insulation and wiring in your roof and walls if they get in, and they are extremely vicious if approached when they have young or are feeding. They also grow to quite a large size, similar to a spaniel I guess. They are also clever, and can work out all sorts of ways to get onto feeders, veggie gardens, etc. We are somewhat overrun here, as the woods are full of them. But we must share... A lot get killed on the roads too. There's a restaurant near here called the Critter Burger. I've always been a little suspicious of what they serve, but 'm sure it's just an unfortunate name choice...
Milky - she was watching me - she had 3 little ones with her, and I had disturbed their feed under the bird table when I opened the patio door.

Not good neighbours then!

Thank God, no racoons here..But they are sooooo cute.

I used to think so too, Newfienurse... They sure snarl at you!

She looks cute ....

They are beautiful but always trouble. I managed the grounds at the home I grew up in one summer, it had been sitting empty and decided to sleep outdoors. I'd seen a large group of racoon in the orchard each night but didn't realize they would be territorial. I awoke in my tent to vicious snarls and growling thinking I was about to be killed by a bear. It was those big racoons, pawing at the tent flaps. I slept inside the house after that. :-)

And even in the cities they are! At the edge of our middlesized city (Kassel, Germany) there are plenty, coming into houses etc., like You describe. One of my friends, she´s a little naive, goes on summer days, feeding them with ice-cream. She says, they take it out of her hands, very softly...
The racoons were settled here since about 1930 or so. I love them from far!