The one on the left is not frightened of me at all.  In fact, the little rascal is very curious and often comes right up to the fence to get a look.  It’s very cute when I’m already looking over the fence and he stands on his hind feet right below me and looks up (which also puts him within arm’s length).  If I didn’t know better about raccoons, I’d be all “Aaahhh, look at the baby…  Come here and let me squeeze you and hug you and keep you for my very own…”  But I would never be so foolish.  Still, it’s very cute and makes for some entertainment if I happen to be out there when it’s dinner time.

The one on the right still isn’t very sure about me.  That one interrupts dinner constantly to check on my location and make sure I haven’t moved in for the kill.  That’s fine with me and is better for them.  Be afraid of people.  Be very afraid.

I’ll also say that having the fence between us helps calm them a bit if they do come around while I’m out there, and it even gives them a bit more confidence if I walk out while they’re already eating.

Neither of these two is very large, and certainly not as large as I’ve seen.  The one on the right is only slightly bigger than the one on the left (a wee bit in girth and a hair in height).  That makes identifying the sexes impossible, even cursorily, since otherwise I’d need to spy on their private parts.  Well, forgive me for not wanting to stand outside with a flashlight trying to illuminate the genitalia of the local nocturnal wildlife.  It’s just not my thing.

[two common raccoons (Procyon lotor)]

It was time for an early morning walk.  The sun was not yet peeking over the horizon, but there was ample light already filling the sky.  As I passed by a neighboring apartment complex, I heard something rushing toward me — or, more accurately, toward the creek.  It was a rather large raccoon who was in quite a hurry to get back home before the sun came up.  He galloped toward me and my first reaction was simply to get out of the way, but then another idea hit me: get some pictures.  But how?  He was moving quickly enough that he’d pass me in a few seconds and would disappear into the brush surrounding the creek.

Ah, but I had a secret weapon!  I generally carry some kind of snack with me when I go for walks.  On this particular morning I had a bag of roasted peanuts.  Well, if there’s one thing I’ve learned…  Raccoons like peanuts.

So I quickly pulled out the bag and tossed a handful of them in his path.  That got his attention.  His headlong rush toward his daytime hiding place came to a screeching halt as he stopped to enjoy a bit more to eat before bedtime.  All I had to do then was pull out the camera and take some shots.  Once he finished eating what I’d given him, he continued on his way and I continued on mine.