My dog toaster was attacked by a raccoon

[Firestorm]

I have to turn the lights on to spook all the interesting critters. I hate that dogs have to be dogs. But mostly I love 'em like crazy.

Why would any self-respecting wolf want to hang with the likes of us?

[Leo_Gnardo]

I have to turn the lights on to spook all the interesting critters. I hate that dogs have to be dogs. But mostly I love 'em like crazy.

Why would any self-respecting wolf want to hang with the likes of us?

Why? Free food and a scratch atop the head. Then to be bred into chihuahuas, shih-tzus etc. up to Great Danes and St. Bernards. The spectrum of dogdom is wondrous.

The wild critters around here don't give a hang about lights. Bats sometimes lurk near my front door to pick off bugs flying around in the lit area. Possums and raccoons and fox stroll into the lit part of the garden to gnaw on castoff food. My neighbor puts out so much food for the birds, suet and seeds, I'm expecting a bear to show up & feast on the bounty. Bear have been sighted within half a mile. One showed up at the Dairy Queen but didn't have enough cash to even buy a small cone. Later seen with his hindquarters hanging out of the grease locker at Applebees. Bear heaven - found! Free grease, all you can eat, no charge. Funny thing the local police will show up to pulverize a rabid fox with a couple dozen rounds (actually happened) but when the bear call went out they stayed locked in at HQ with their boxes of Dunkin Donuts.

[Zippy]

Then to be bred into chihuahuas, shih-tzus etc. up to Great Danes and St. Bernards. The spectrum of dogdom is wondrous.

Funny you mention that. I recall hearing that recent DNA testing of dogs has shown that Chihuahuas do not share the same lineage as most (all?) other dogs. Anyone else familiar with that?

FWIW, the racoons didn't return last night. I kinda miss 'em. I'd welcome them back if they didn't leave such a mess on top of the car port.

The skunks that roam the neighborhood aren't so easy to enjoy. We tend to smell them more than see them.

[Firestorm]

Then to be bred into chihuahuas, shih-tzus etc. up to Great Danes and St. Bernards. The spectrum of dogdom is wondrous.

Funny you mention that. I recall hearing that recent DNA testing of dogs has shown that Chihuahuas do not share the same lineage as most (all?) other dogs. Anyone else familiar with that?

FWIW, the racoons didn't return last night. I kinda miss 'em. I'd welcome them back if they didn't leave such a mess on top of the car port.

The skunks that roam the neighborhood aren't so easy to enjoy. We tend to smell them more than see them.

The chihuahua/rat thing was a scam. In fact, the chihuahua' s DNA is pretty old and pretty New World. A lot of dogs have Asian roots. But most breeds only date back as far as active human breeding activity. Amazing how much variety has been produced. But they're all still dogs and originally wolves. I still can't believe they want to hang with us. Food, yes. But something else, too. Somehow they view us as the ultimate Alpha. We usually don't live up to that and they don't care.

[Zippy]

The chihuahua/rat thing was a scam. In fact, the chihuahua' s DNA is pretty old and pretty New World.

Hmmm, OK - although the rodent thing was pretty believable.

I guess that only leaves the next question: Why???




It's not like I'm anti-rodent. I had pet white rat named Milhous when I was in high school.

[Leo_Gnardo]

FWIW, the racoons didn't return last night. I kinda miss 'em. I'd welcome them back if they didn't leave such a mess on top of the car port.

The skunks that roam the neighborhood aren't so easy to enjoy. We tend to smell them more than see them.

Just like people, you can't control their behavior. Much. If you really want raccoons to return just put food out. Meat scraps, peanuts, corn on cob, they'll eat almost anything. Just remember some advice from Click and Clack the car guys. What's the most common adjective used with the word raccoon?

Rabid.

Skunks are pretty harmless and actually do away with a number of pest animals. Only problem is, they stink. Had to get 2 of 'em out of traps last year. I used an 8-foot 2x4 to pry the traps open. Lucky neither was in a mood to spray. One of my customers got sprayed when he was a kid and developed anosmia - can't smell anything. That can't be good.

After being on the missing list all season, skunk have returned to my neighborhood. About an hour after sunset, somebody (maybe a raccoon) must be pestering 'em because they let loose with the only defense they have.

[cbass]

Round here skunks is notorious for carrying rabies .Coons not so much

[Reeltarded]

I had a girlfriend like that once. Black hair, white stripe, stinky feet and foamy breath.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I had a girlfriend like that once. Black hair, white stripe, stinky feet and foamy breath.

Last time I saw Melanie, she looked like she was wearing a skunk on her head. Wasn't her, was it? She had a brand new pair of roller skates.

[Structo]

Chimp vs raccoon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs7u2TTPXFE

[M Fowler]

I was camping for four days near Garrison Dam North Dakota a week ago fishing on Lake Sakakawea with older brother, newly found younger brother, newly found younger sister and her husband. Didn't get one fish. Oh well it was nice out on the lake. Took one day of wrenching to get the electrical fixed on the boat motor before we could fish.

The squirrels were sitting on our boots begging for food, raccoon's did nightly raids and a pack of Coyotes howled like mad. Slept pretty good though in the RV, got down to 47 that's nothing.