Sadly, they grow up and start to fight.  I’ve seen one or possibly two raccoons whom I named “Stu,” for its short stubby tail.  At first I thought it must be a birth defect, but apparently they lose their tails in fights with other raccoons.  In the following videos we see two raccoons coming back to the lair with damaged tails.

The first comes across the fence from the field, with a tail suspiciously bent at a right angle.  The damaged portion of the tail seems to dangle lifelessly.  The raccoon considers entering the den, then returns and enters the tunnel of tires.  From here it disappears, possibly returning to the field.

Another raccoon arrives a half hour later.  The black tip of its tail appears to be nearly detached, dangling helplessly.  The raccoon enters the den multiple times, but appears unable to rest.  As it paces outside, the raccoon keeps shaking, as if to free itself of the damaged tip of its tail.

After staying in the end for over an hour, the raccoon comes back outside.

That evening, a raccoon with a short tail climbs the fence.  It starts to step onto the tree that will take it down to the field, then clumsily turns around on top of the fence like it’s having trouble keeping its balance.  After greeting another racoon, it climbs down the tree into the field.  I’m not sure if this is Stu 1, Stu 2, or Stu 3.

The following afternoon, I found tufts of white and black hair scattered across the lawn, not too far from the raccoon den.

Stu was a nursing mother in the spring, so Widey must be one of her kits.

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.