New photos added to photobucket

[tenaya]

Cute stuff:





Go here for more:

http://photobucket.com/albums/y98/kelpster/Varmits/

I should add that these new ones were taken tonight (most of them.) Last night, the coyotes started right at dusk and kept up their yipping and howling for hours. I knew Cutiepie wouldn't bring her family down under those circumstances, but I fretted all the same. Coyotes are smart, but so is Momma. And tonight about 11pm, she trotted them into the courtyard, hungry and thirsty, but everybody is here safe and sound.

As you can see, the babies are getting more used to the skunks; one little guy had actually pressed both his hands on a big ol' skunk butt and was trying to push the critter away from the kibble pile. He was really putting his shoulders to the task and kinda bouncing against the skunk. The skunk squealed a few times but eventually took a few steps in the desired direction, exposing more kibble to eat. At another time, a raccoon baby grabbed a skunk tail with both hands and just shook it back and forth. That got a lot of indignant squealing. Those big fluffy skunk tails are just too tempting for little hands.

Comments

[graculus.livejournal.com]

It's a cornucopia of varmints! :P

Thanks for these pics and your ongoing varmint reports - we don't have either raccoons or skunks over here so I'm always fascinated to hear about them trundling round your garden.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Cornucopia, that's a good way of putting it. I'm sure that's what they are thinking, too, with all the water, kibble, grapes and peanuts that get thrown at them. It's strange but when a bunch of young skunks get together, they stand with their tails bunched together; I feel like they should be called a bouquet of skunks.

Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying the reports. We actually watch them all evening long because, at this point in the tv season, the varmints are much more entertaining than the repeats that are on. ;-)

[paian]

These are great! I'm enjoying the reports too, and I love all the pictures.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

LOL about the skunk tail playing! They never pay attention when the flash goes off? It's so cute how they all "bunch up" at this stage, clearly clinging to safety in numbers.

Has "dad" ever come with them, any of the years you've had mom & the kids?

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thank you for letting me know that you're enjoying them. I'm very pleased that folks are entertained, and thus encouraged, will keep it up. I appreciate it. :)

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

There's always a couple of the little raccoons that move off a couple of steps as soon as I open the door. The rest of them will look up and do a threat assess, then go back to eating/drinking. The skunks won't move away unless I start to come out. If I take more than about 6 photos, the group gets antsy and moves off for a while. I think it's the 'staring' that makes them uneasy, but I'm just waiting for a cute moment.

If any adult raccoon comes near, Momma growls and snorts. If they persist, she bolts straight for them in a very fierce way (think of a crack addict charging a policeman) and there's a terrible fight. Having said that, she actually did allow Laughing boy to be in the courtyard the other night with her group. I don't actually know if 's/he' is a boy, but I'm sure 's/he' is from last year's litter. She growled and snorted, but s/he just stayed put and waited for her to calm down and accept him. And as long as s/he stayed on the edge, there was no further problem.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

I think it's the 'staring' that makes them uneasy, but I'm just waiting for a cute moment.

Aren't they all cute moments, all the time? ;-)

[chance1562.livejournal.com]

Dude, the little raccoon in the middle is smiling, too cute!

[xochiquetzl]

*falls on floor and twitches from the cute!!!!!!!!!*

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does look like that, doesn't it? I guess he's got a lot to be happy about.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

:-)