Overtime I have had many different birds, foxes, skunks, squirrels, chipmunks and sometimes stray cats visiting my back yard. During the winter a mother raccoon and her baby would check out the back yard in the evening to see if any food left. In the deep snow in winter it would be difficult for them to find food and I like to help them out.
Unfortunately the mother has been killed on the road as I saw a raccoon corpse on the roadside and since then the baby, who I call Rocky, comes by solo each evening. How do I know it’s him? They all have the bandit look across the eyes and the ringed bushy tail but Rocky had quite a bit of white on his fur so I could pick him out.
The raccoon is a medium sized mammal native to North America and can weigh 14 to 25 lbs.
Scientific Facts
lifespan: 2 – 3 years (In the wild) and sometimes 20 years in captivity.
Species: P. lotor
Family: Procyonidae
Order: Carnivora
Genus: Procyon
Class: Mammalia
Source.
Diet
The raccoon is an omnivorous and opportunistic eater, with its diet determined heavily by its environment. Common foods include fruits, plants, nuts, berries, insects, rodents, frogs, eggs, and crayfish. In urban environments, the animal often sifts through garbage for food. The majority of its diet consists of invertebrates and plant foods.
Source.
Rocky has grown to full size since the winter. I leave him a peanut butter sandwich and some cat food. He comes by about 8 O’clock each evening for a picnic on the grass.
I’m always amazed how the raccoon uses his little hands to eat with much like a human. Those little paws of his can open large outside garbage cans and dig their way into mischief. They are known to survive in cities by eating anything from garbage cans but they prefer the forest like here with a stream so they have water.
Here he is waiting under a chair by the barn to see if I am going to leave some food outside on the grass for him.
Raccoons are not dangerous to humans unless they had rabies then I don’t know what they would do. Rocky is still afraid of me and that is fine. Raccoons have been a nuisance to some folks as they are known to get into chimneys and attics of houses but he heads for the woods each evening.
Rocky is looking up at the Blue Jay. He knows the birds will eat his food if he doesn’t get there soon enough.
Most people will say they do not want raccoons around as they get into the garbage but Rocky is an orphan and I like to help him out at least until the berries become plentiful. People have been known to set dogs on the raccoon and chase him up a tree where the person will then shot the raccoon. I think this would be terrible as animals have a right to live on this planet too.
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
All photos are mine taken with CanonEOS Rebel T6 camera.
All Rights Reserved unless with my permission
My entry for Amazing Nature contest May #4 hosted by 
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