When you live close to the woods, wild animals will often find their way into areas where you may not want them.

Many times, these animals are seen as a nuisance or a pest. While some wild mammals like opossums and raccoons can pose a threat to our poultry, that doesn't mean that they deserve a death sentence.

While doing chores in the rain yesterday morning, my older daughters informed me that we had captured a raccoon in a live trap. I like to keep some live traps set on our property so that we can capture animals that could pose a threat to our poultry or livestock. Then, upon capture, we can relocate them to a better location for us, and for them.

This little raccoon was not too happy to be detained in the rain overnight, but I'd rather have him endure some temporary frustration and then be able to move on with his life than to have his life ended. Although raccoons can live for decades, most only live for a couple years in the wild due to hunters, roadkill, and dogs.