One sick raccoon!

Not all of nature is pretty and sometimes it is downright ugly. Predator/prey relationships have a certain synergy and although appearing brutal they are a part of the natural world. A less natural relationship is the interaction of domestic animals and wildlife. We usually think in terms of how pets are affected by wildlife and not the other way around.  My wife and I almost tripped on this raccoon last week and yesterday it was still alive. A Google search has lead me to believe it has a fatal case canine distemper.

Two Raccoons Meet

One of the joys of photography is recording events that others may not see. Another joy is recording something that is a mystery, a least to me. I'm sure there are biologists that are familiar with this behavior but it is a mystery to me. If only I could read their minds...

Technical: The gap in recording is a function of "dynamic" video feature on the camera. When this feature is selected  a pause in action stops the recording saving battery power and memory, however, it can make for uneven video. I have since disabled this feature.

Minnesota Coyote

I found a raccoon carcass in the woods and moved it to a good camera trap location. The scientist in me put it on the camera side of the log so I could record any mice that might eat it. The photographer in me wishes it was on the other side of the log. This raccoon died of natural causes (?) and was not eaten by the coyote. I question natural causes because I have found 4 dead raccoons in the same area since Christmas. My guess is distemper or another cause related to interaction with domestic cats or dogs.  This raccoon had been living in a nearby tree and I was excited to get it coming and going with young ones in the scene, maybe next year.

Curious Raccoons

This family of raccoons has been active all winter. The camera trap was set up at the end of a log crossing Mound Creek at Cottonwood Prairie SNA. Food is a little scarce with the creek frozen over so they decided to check the camera for anything tasty.

Night Visitors

We visit "wild" areas during the day but I am fascinated by creatures who call this place home and wander at night. I set this camera trap up over a partially eaten raccoon carcass and was surprised to see we are not the only domestic creatures who visit.

Raccoons

I set a trail camera up in front of a culvert last week suspecting there were raccoons sleeping in it and hoping to get a behavior pattern to film them as they were coming and going. 800 images later I have a pattern. I should say 798 shots later, two shots were of a squirrel. There was daylight activity once in the week and the rest was well after dark. Maybe I'll check their pattern again in the spring.

Raccoon and Mouse

I have had a camera trap set up at the end of a upturned tree for the last week and am getting hundreds of mouse shots. Occasionally  a raccoon or feral cat that comes to check the mice. During the day squirrels search for acorns deep in the recess of the stump. Not the most photogenic set up but very active. To see some incredible camera trap images check: BBC Wildlife Camera Trap Photo of the Year-2014