Barefoot Momma vs The Screaming Raccoon

Yep, another adventure while I'm still stuck at the homestead (not as bad as I first thought) and not hitting the travel itinerary as planned.

Picture this ...

It was around 3:30 in the Rural South Texas morning. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep so I got up to make some hot tea. Mom was just going to sleep and said she'd been praying all night (insomnia). I joked about it being my turn now. Realized it didn't sound like such a bad thing to do since I was up anyway. Started praying.

Around 4ish, I realized I was half awake because I giggled when the rooster crowed. It sounded like a raccoon was screaming back at him! I giggled quietly a bit more, imagining what that looked like.

Cockle doodle doo! Rrrr rrr rrr rr rr! Raccoon sitting on haunches, shaking his fists at Carlos (the rooster). Or maybe trying to shush him before the humans got up and discovered him/her?

Carlos crowed again and the same screaming raccoon sound could be heard. Maybe he/she was yelling at him to hush up because it hurt his/her ears? Which would mean that the 'coon was straight up in Carlos and the girls' faces!

The back story ran through my sleep hazed mind:

Mr. or Mrs. Coon has been trying to dig under the coop for over a week. Every day, I cover the holes and create new ways to block access. Every night, the smarty pants raccoon almost makes it. 

Thankfully, I took a lesson from my Grandpa and buried the wire at least a good foot down into the dirt all the way around. Also thankfully, I've got a lot of scrap 2x4 I can bury so the sneaky rascal has gotten a handful of board instead of chicken for several days in a row!

That woke me up, freaked out, because I got to the part where I remembered my uncle's story about raccoons ripping off chicken's heads!

Side Note: That creepy story is true, unlike the one they used to tell me about the cougar who'd jump in through the screen window at night to eat kids who moved and didn't go to sleep. Ah, rural family love.

Anyway, since it was so dark in the chicken's section of the yard (I need to transition the coop to winter mode), I used the lock/unlock flashers on my vehicle's key fob while I ran to get the shotgun. I had no intention of shooting anything but the sound helps repel critters.

Finally made it out, flashed the lock/unlock again, blinding myself in the process (it was dark and I was right in front of one of the lights), realized I wasn't dressed for this and panicked but the chickens are family, scared the dog when I flailed in semi-blindness (maybe he thought I'd shoot him?), and finally managed to walk unsteadily down the dark side of the vehicle to hop in. Put the girl in gear, maneuvered into position and shone the headlights on the chickens. Didn't see anything.

Parked in my spot again, fired off a just-in-case shot, and came back in giggling about a raccoon talking back to the rooster. Still thinking of silly reasons why the 'coon would have been talking back to Carlos.

Haven't inspected for prints and activity yet (now that I'm awake mentally) but I'm planning to do that once CJ's done with today's homeschool stuff. We'll definitely be adding a raccoon nature study to our work now!

Later on, I'll catch up on all my RSS friends like my favorite Cowgirl and live vicariously through some fab travelers like the Ducks. =)

Have fun, stay safe, and G-d bless,


P.S. Definitely wasn't dressed appropriately for this little adventure. Did all this barefoot and in cut off sweat pants chopped into shorts. I did freak out for a moment thinking a rabid 'coon would grab my feet and attack from under the house/under the vehicle/under the other vehicle/etc. causing me to potentially implant several painful grass burrs in an attempt to run away but luckily, it all worked out in the end.

P.P.S. Can you believe my Mom and CJ slept through the whole thing? Vehicles, shotguns, accidentally slammed doors, and everything!