• Saturday-What'sUP December 11 - 07:03 pm

I see you, but you can't see me! That's what this silly raccoon seems to be saying when the camera focused in on him. First thought when seeing that clump up in the tree was that it could be a porcupine, but upon closer scrutinization with my trusty camera lens, it was plain as the mask on his face, it was a raccoon. I thought raccoons hibernated in the winter months, but after a bit of research, I found out that they don't really hibernate, but enter a state of torpor, which is when some of the body functions slow down, such as breathing, heartbeat, etc., so they don't move around as much and sleep for longer periods of time. I sure hope this guy wasn't nearing that state, because if he falls asleep for an extended period of time up there, he's liable to have an accident and fall right out of the tree.

I suppose you could say that little guy is "Up a tree without a leaf"!!

NEAT picture, Mary. Thanks so much. Sent it off to the grandkids downstate.

Raccoons may be cute to watch but they are nasty, destructive animals with sharp teeth and often carry rabies.

I saw a skunk out one February too...seemed like the stripes were opposite...more white than black on that one....not often you see them out in the white stuff either. Cute pics!