A raccoon waits for a couple minutes in the entrance of the den, watching for the perfect moment to leave.
Entering, but Not Exiting
Widey enters the den three times in 17 minutes, but the camera doesn’t capture her leaving. Either she exits so slowly the camera doesn’t register it, or there is a second exit.
Waiting at the Tire Tunnel
Target and Widey leave the den.
Target enters the tire tunnel as daylight fades to black (and white.)
Widey joins Target in the tunnel.
Target takes a position at the tunnel opening
After waiting about five minutes, Target leads way toward the side of the shed, and Widey follows.
Eight minutes later, the raccoons return (Widey with a leaf in its tail) and they groom on top of the tires.
After a couple minutes, Widey descends and stands alert on the ground.
Three minutes later, Target steals the cat dishes in the garage.
Widey Daylight Expedition, February 17
Widey leaves the den at 6:13 PM, just a few minutes after sunset.
After being outside for a little more than a minute, Widey considers going back inside, then wanders over and disappears under the other shed.
A couple minutes later, Widey returns to the den.
Target Waiting in Tires
Widey tried to steal food from Target in the garage, then both raccoons returned to the den. Five minutes later, Widey somehow sneaked out of the den and is back in the garage looking for leftovers.
Meanwhile, Target leaves the den.
And goes into a row of tires stacked against the fence.
Target returns the entrance of the tire tunnel . . . and waits. From this vantage point, Target can watch the windows along the back of our house and for vehicles entering or leaving the garage. Target is probably waiting for the perfect moment to go check the garage.
Meanwhile, Widey is still in the garage looking for food.
Target watches from the tires while Widey returns to the den.
Target then climbs on top of the tires, perhaps for a better vantage point.
And comes back down again.
Target finally leaves the tires and goes around the side of the shed.
Target enters the garage through the cat door.
And looks for leftovers on the garage stairs, except Widey has probably eaten anything.
Widey Late Arrival
Widey crosses the fence from the field in daylight and joins maybe two raccoons under the shed. Coming from a different colony, Widey seems less concerned about traveling without the cover of darkness.
Hasty Retreat
Two raccoons leave the den, but something spooks them and they rush back under the shed.
Comings & Goings – 5 December 2021
A raccoon raises its head from under the shed at 5:46 PM, then ducks back inside the den. This was the first raccoon sighting for the evening.
A raccoon with wide white bands in its tail – we’ll call it Widey – crosses the fence from the field. Widey probably comes from a den further south.
The raccoon under the shed comes out of the den, while Widey (a pair of white eyes in the top left) comes down from the fence. The first raccoon stands on its hind legs to get a better view of the neighboring yard.
Stu, a mother raccoon with a shirt Stuby tail, crosses the fence into the field. It’s likely crossed the field together and entered the yard at different points.
Widey follows Stu up the fence, but enters the neighboring yard instead of the field.
Three raccoons exited the den under the shed.
Returning Home
Not an Earthquake
This is not an earthquake. The camera is mounted on a fence, which the second raccoon in the video is climbing.