Wildlife in my own backyard

The other day my dogs were going nuts with their barking. This is a common occurrence since we are surrounded by woods with empty lots around us (let keep it that way) but they were not showing any signs of letting up.

We have seen all sorts of wildlife in the back, front and sides of our house. We have had deer, hawks, wild turkey, coyotes, and I am sure many other things we have not seen or heard but this one I found interesting.

I went out to the back deck and saw the dogs looking up a tree and barking uncontrollably. I had to strain at first but then I saw a fluffy tail hanging down. The dogs had scared a stinking raccoon up a tree.

At first I thought, OK rabies but they are good until 2/11 (yes I went in and checked) but then I was annoyed at the barking and new they were not going to let up. So I got the dogs in and let the little raccoon make his or her way down the tree.

I would have thought that it would be scared and would have scurried into the woods but as you can see...

it took it's good ole time getting there...

It was a really slow raccoon!

I have to admit that I was tempted to let the dogs back out when it was down from the tree to see how fast it would take off but then I figured if they had caught it we would have a big mess on our hands. I know that raccoon would have tore those sweet puppies up!