I opened the patio door so I could close the storm door, too, and lock it. I heard a sound and flicked the light switch on and saw these masked bandits helping themselves to the crackers one of the kids left outside. They were quite bold, snacking away even while I took flash photos. I would have gone closer, but I was worried they would attack me and give me rabies, thus ending my life in a painful torrent of foaming at the mouth. 
Hey, if you haven’t yet joined ClubMom, click on that happy link over there ———> and do it! I get a little something everytime a new person joins (and it’s free for you!). Also, don’t forget to check my other blog, The Amazing Shrinking Mom, for my most recent posts about being fat. And not.
My Late-Night Visitors
Published
Actual Unretouched Photo 
we just saw “over the hedge” yesterday. poor raccoons, just trying to get something to eat!! 🙂
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Ahh! How cute. They make such a Gremlin noise.
You were wise to avoid them. They do carry rabies. Skunks are the worst.
They are fun to watch though!
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They look so innocent, but we know better!
Cougar and bear spottings in our neighborhood keep us on our toes.
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So fearless, letting you take their pictures.
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One night I came home from work very late at night and to my surprise, I saw four racoons crawling out of the sewer. I did not realize that my body could run so fast after midnight.
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As long as the wildlife stays OUTSIDE I’m okay with it.
I’ve come face to face with possums in my house. Once was enough. Twice caused me to develop a severe facial tic. Probably the possum did also.
(I’d climb a fence for a cracker now too.)
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Okay, long story short…One night while in a popup camper on Padre Island (coast of Texas) we all wake up to see a racoon (who had unzipped the window to let himself in) jumping on the table to reach the bananas that were hanging from the support bar. Too freaky. As soon as we woke up and started shining lights at him, he hightailed it outta there. There was apparently a food shortage and the critters were getting desperate.
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I’d LOVE to join ClubMom, and I did try, but they’re not letting in us foreigners. You know how it is – we Canadians are such troublemakers!
(I e-mailed them about it, and they just said that at the current time, they can only let Americans join. Not sure why.)
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Check your yard and make sure they are not pooping in it. Raccoons always go to the same place to poop (a “raccoon latrine”), and if there is one in your yard it could have roundworm eggs that are deadly to children. If you find one, call a government official (DNR maybe?) to clean it up. Gross, I know, but this is worse than rabies. Kids usually know if they’ve been bit and will tell you. They don’t know the dirt they are playing in is raccoon poop.
A public service announcement from your friendly microbiologist.
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No kidding, we’ve had 2 rabid raccoons on our porch and one of them bit our dog and caused our entire family (including 2 screaming kiddos) to endure the rabies series!! They are very cute though.
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Vile creatures, raccoons. Cute, maybe. Squirrels are cute, too. But they are NOT YOUR FRIENDS.
Red Fish wasn’t kidding — raccoon poop is wicked, deadly stuff and you don’t want any of your family anywhere near it. Raccoons are disease-laden pests.
Squirrels… well, I dunno if they carry diseases or not, but they have a rotten penchant for thievery and vandalism.
Bunnies, on the other hand, are cute. They like to eat your garden, sure, but they’re not hard to keep OUT of the garden.
Okay, I’ll quit now.
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I would of kept my distance too. Darn those mask bandits.
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I love raccoons! ive made a few great pets out of them little cutties! But im a little worried about that raccoon poop thing. i know about almost every thing else about them. and if any one knows a lot about it please write something and i will make sure i check it. Thank yall.
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