Today’s excitement

[My2butterflies]

While out taking some pictures of wild birds I spotted this raccoon out in the field. Not too far off there was a male and female guinea pair poking around in the field.

The male guinea decided the raccoon wasn’t welcome and ran right up to it! Squawking the whole time, he chased it off. The female followed and they drove it into the woods.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

While out taking some pictures of wild birds I spotted this raccoon out in the field. Not too far off there was a male and female guinea pair poking around in the field.
View attachment 2690205
The male guinea decided the raccoon wasn’t welcome and ran right up to it! Squawking the whole time, he chased it off. The female followed and they drove it into the woods. View attachment 2690206View attachment 2690207View attachment 2690208View attachment 2690209View attachment 2690210

Good on them!

 

[R2elk]

While out taking some pictures of wild birds I spotted this raccoon out in the field. Not too far off there was a male and female guinea pair poking around in the field.
View attachment 2690205
The male guinea decided the raccoon wasn’t welcome and ran right up to it! Squawking the whole time, he chased it off. The female followed and they drove it into the woods. View attachment 2690206View attachment 2690207View attachment 2690208View attachment 2690209View attachment 2690210

I would be concerned about a raccoon that is out in the daytime.

 

[My2butterflies]

I would be concerned about a raccoon that is out in the daytime.

It’s was around 4:30pm and overcast. Would that still be considered too early to be “normal”?
It looked like it was eating something. Not really sure what. A missed egg maybe. I’m pretty sure it’s the one that ate the dummy chicken eggs I had in the woods.

 

[R2elk]

If that had happened here, it would already been buried without touching the carcass. Yes the time it was out is abnormal for a nocturnal animal.

 

[My2butterflies]

If that had happened here, it would already been buried without touching the carcass. Yes the time it was out is abnormal for a nocturnal animal.

I’ll have to keep an eye out and see if I notice it out anymore.
I guess I didn’t think too much about it because it was close to the time of day I’ve seen the older babies exploring the outside of their tree.
What does one use to shoot one? Bird shot or slugs? I have decent aim, but it’s been a couple years since I’ve done target practice. Do raccoons require a permit to shoot or is it a case of SSS?

 

[R2elk]

I’ll have to keep an eye out and see if I notice it out anymore.
I guess I didn’t think too much about it because it was close to the time of day I’ve seen the older babies exploring the outside of their tree.
What does one use to shoot one? Bird shot or slugs? I have decent aim, but it’s been a couple years since I’ve done target practice. Do raccoons require a permit to shoot or is it a case of SSS?

I use a .22 with hollowpoints but a 12 gauge at close range will kill quickly too.

Every state has their own rules. I don't know Minnesota's rules on the subject. Here, raccoons are classified as a predator and can be legally hunted at any time of the day or night. Some states list them as a fur bearer.

From my viewpoint, your first pic grabbed my attention as a sickly looking raccoon.

 

[My2butterflies]

I use a .22 with hollowpoints but a 12 gauge at close range will kill quickly too.

Every state has their own rules. I don't know Minnesota's rules on the subject. Here, raccoons are classified as a predator and can be legally hunted at any time of the day or night. Some states list them as a fur bearer.

From my viewpoint, your first pic grabbed my attention as a sickly looking raccoon.

I’ll look into it.
It does look kinda thin.
I thought it was a woodchuck when I first saw it. It wasn’t till I used my zoom lens that I saw it was a raccoon. I hope it’s not sickly and possibly spreading anything I have found three different “coon toilet” areas near the base of the trees they live in.

 

[Sydney65]

I use a .22 with hollowpoints but a 12 gauge at close range will kill quickly too.

Every state has their own rules. I don't know Minnesota's rules on the subject. Here, raccoons are classified as a predator and can be legally hunted at any time of the day or night. Some states list them as a fur bearer.

From my viewpoint, your first pic grabbed my attention as a sickly looking raccoon.

Definitely a juvenile. I have had one show up one day (pre guineas). Given it's size, I took it to be an orphan. Sure enough, it found the bird feeder and took up residence in the tree, & resumed it's noctural routine. I took away the bird feeder and it moved on.Back then, I enjoyed watching it's antics from the window. Now, not a chance.
Humane services say daytime sightings can be bc momma had to forage further to find food, be in the middle of moving, or other reasons not related to rabies, like my orphan.
5 typical signs of a rabid raccoon are looks sick, foaming at the mouth,making strange noises, looks confused, disoriented, and slow, &/or has difficulty walking bc paralysis in the legs is often a symptom of rabies.
Odder to me than it being out during the day was the lack of response to the guinea walking up to it.

 

[My2butterflies]

Definitely a juvenile. I have had one show up one day (pre guineas). Given it's size, I took it to be an orphan. Sure enough, it found the bird feeder and took up residence in the tree, & resumed it's noctural routine. I took away the bird feeder and it moved on.Back then, I enjoyed watching it's antics from the window. Now, not a chance.
Humane services say daytime sightings can be bc momma had to forage further to find food, be in the middle of moving, or other reasons not related to rabies, like my orphan.
5 typical signs of a rabid raccoon are looks sick, foaming at the mouth,making strange noises, looks confused, disoriented, and slow, &/or has difficulty walking bc paralysis in the legs is often a symptom of rabies.
Odder to me than it being out during the day was the lack of response to the guinea walking up to it.

I think the lack of response was likely due to it being in the middle of eating. It had something it was munching on. I think it was irritated that the guinea was disturbing it, but maybe due to other run-ins knew the guinea wouldn’t give up?

Perhaps if it was just a young one it might not have known how to respond. I’m really not sure.