Rise and Shine!
It’s dusk, and the only things shining outside are the first twinkling stars, street lamps and lights from neighbourhood buildings. Scoot the Raccoon eyes flutter open. He yawns, stretches and uses a back claw to scratch an itch on his neck. He crawls out of his den, sniffs the air for signs of trouble. Instead, he catches the whiff of something delicious. It smells a little like what the two-legged, furless beings in the giant den above him had for dinner two nights ago when he first moved into this den under the deck. He sniffs again, discerning where the smell is coming from and knows right where to go. It's dark now, and Scoot waddles over to the bin sitting out by the garage. Using his plump and surprisingly strong body, he tips the bin over, and bags of rubbish spill out. That was easy! These humans haven’t yet purchased a lock for their outdoor garbage container, even though Scoot knocked it over last night, too. He rips open the bag and finds the promised meal, consisting of vegetable and meat scraps, along with some eggshells from breakfast. This feast gives him plenty of energy to move to a new den.Move on Down the Road
Scoot eats his fill and is on the move. Male raccoons can range anywhere from around two kilometres up to about 30 kilometres, depending on how large they are and whether they live in a rural or urban setting. Scoot the Raccoon is well-fed, and he’s been around for a couple of years now, so he’s broadened his turf from where he ranged in his early independent days. He also lives in an area where he gets the best of both worlds. He’s near a small community in British Columbia adjacent to woodland. It’s a perfect habitat for a raccoon.
It’s late spring here, and, as Scoot wanders into the woods, he catches another scent. Suddenly, he’s feeling a little romantic. He follows his nose to where a female raccoon is foraging. She’s next to a stream, dipping something in the water and rolling it around in her hand. He moves a little closer, but he isn’t stealth enough, and she gets away. Scoot decides food sounds better than the chase. He’s already mated with several females this season, so he’s less motivated.
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