Raccoon Eyes…
Growing up I loved to read about animals as did I enjoy movies about animals (bet you could have guessed that one ). Having been raised in Brooklyn NY…the zoo was my closest experience to wild life. Early teens the family moved to LI….more land, better air…I was never really much of an out doorsy kind of gal…lots of allergies and I hate bugs.
In my mid twenties I relocated to Atlanta….been in the very same house ever since. Here there is abundant wild birds and ever since I can remember we have shared our yard with a few raccoons. We get along…they will forage in the area that we feed the birds. They have not ever bothered us, but then again we do not leave anything out for them to get into.
Raccoons live in the wild about 8 years or so….longer in captivity. Our area is the perfect location for raccoons for there is a creek in the wooded area. At night If the light comes on or they hear the clicking of the back door….they zip over the fence for they know the dogs are coming out for a potty run. They are actually pretty darn smart in knowing our daily and nightly habits
Once the spring time arrives we notice the raccoons more and more, especially during the day. This year is no different. We seem to have a female hanging around….last few days she is visiting us more and more throughout the day. I cannot tell if she has had babies, or is going to have babies. She is sooooo hungry. Now, as cute as raccoons may seem, they are wild, and you do not want your dogs to get into a fight with one….raccoons can be so very nasty. Yes, they do at times have rabies as well. So as of late I find myself watching for changes in their behavior. They can be extremity protective of their babies, as can I be extremely protective of my dogs 
While I have always allowed them to feed (no choice if feeding birds) this one however is not moving when she sees me. She has gotten to accustomed to me…mine and the dogs daily outings in the yard… she does not realize she is tress passing. A free meal can be had over the fence, they are such opportunist feeders. So, it looks like for her safety, and that of my dogs and myself I will be bringing the bird feeder in at night and just allow them to forage on the seeds on the ground….as will I be chasing her more during those times I see her during the day.
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