Please Dont Eat The Daisy
by Kym Backland
Title
Please Dont Eat The Daisy
Artist
Kym Backland
Medium
Photograph
Description
This raccoon is a baby. He lays in the grass and waits for his Mommy to come back! He is sleeping most of the time. I worry the coyote or some other animal will come and eat it. I'm not sure if the Mother's leaves him alone all the time.. I took this with a long lense. I try to never bother them... I let cute babies sleep!
Now here is some of that annoying information you may or may not want to read about.. Here are some of those facts about raccoons, that you may or maynot care to know about.. hehe..
The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a native mammal, measuring about 3 feet long, including its 12-inch, bushy, ringed tail. Because their hind legs are longer than the front legs, raccoons have a hunched appearance when they walk or run. Each of their front feet has five dexterous toes, allowing raccoons to grasp and manipulate food and other items. Raccoons prefer forest areas near a stream or water source, but have adapted to various environments throughout Washington. Raccoon populations can get quite large in urban areas, owing to hunting and trapping restrictions, few predators, and human-supplied food. Adult raccoons weigh 15 to 40 pounds, their weight being a result of genetics, age, available food, and habitat location. Males have weighed in at over 60 pounds. A raccoon in the wild will probably weigh less than the urbanized raccoon that has learned to live on handouts, pet food, and garbage-can leftovers. As long as raccoons are kept out of human homes, not cornered, and not treated as pets, they are not dangerous. Facts about Washington Raccoons Food and Feeding Habitats
•Raccoons will eat almost anything, but are particularly fond of creatures found in water—clams, crayfish, frogs, fish, and snails.
•Raccoons also eat insects, slugs, dead animals, birds and bird eggs, as well as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Around humans, raccoons often eat garbage and pet food.
•Although not great hunters, raccoons can catch young gophers, squirrels, mice, and rats.
•Except during the breeding season and for females with young, raccoons are solitary. Individuals will eat together if a large amount of food is available in an area. Den Sites and Resting Sites
•Dens are used for shelter and raising young. They include abandoned burrows dug by other mammals, areas in or under large rock piles and brush piles, hollow logs, and holes in trees.
•Den sites also include wood duck nest-boxes, attics, crawl spaces, chimneys, and abandoned vehicles.
•In urban areas, raccoons normally use den sites as daytime rest sites. In wooded areas, they often rest in trees.
•Raccoons generally move to different den or daytime rest site every few days and do not follow a predictable pattern. Only a female with young or an animal “holed up” during a cold spell will use the same den for any length of time. Several raccoons may den together during winter storms. Reproduction and Home Range
•Raccoons pair up only during the breeding season, and mating occurs as early as January to as late as June. The peak mating period is March to April.
•After a 65-day gestation period, two to three kits are born.
•The kits remain in the den until they are about seven weeks old, at which time they can walk, run, climb, and begin to occupy alternate dens.
•At eight to ten weeks of age, the young regularly accompany their mother outside the den and forage for them selves. By 12 weeks, the kits roam on their own for several nights before returning to their mother.
•The kits remain with their mother in her home range through winter, and in early spring seek out their own territories.
•The size of a raccoon’s home range as well as its nightly hunting area varies greatly depending on the habitat and food supply. Home range diameters of 1 mile are known to occur in urban areas. Mortality and Longevity
•Raccoons die from encounters with vehicles, hunters, and trappers, and from disease, starvation, and predation.
•Young raccoons are the main victims of starvation, since they have very little fat reserves to draw from during food shortages in late winter and early spring.
•Raccoon predators include cougars, bobcats, coyotes, and domestic dogs. Large owls and eagles will prey on young raccoons.
•The average life span of a raccoon in the wild is 2 to 3 years; captive raccoons have lived. Viewing Raccoons Raccoons can be seen throughout the year, except during extremely cold periods. Usually observed at night, they are occasionally seen during the day eating or napping in a tree or searching elsewhere for food. Coastal raccoons take advantage of low tides and are seen foraging on shellfish and other food by day. Trails Raccoons use trails made by other wildlife or humans next to creeks, ravines, ponds, and other water sources. Raccoons often use culverts as a safe way to cross under roads. With a marsh on one side of the road and woods on the other, a culvert becomes their chief route back and forth. Look for raccoon tracks in sand, mud, or soft soil at either end of the culvert. In developed areas, raccoon travel along fences, next to buildings, and near food sources.
Uploaded
January 31st, 2013
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Viewed 355 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/10/2024 at 8:08 AM
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Comments (40)
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Kym Backland
RANDY, (BLUE ELVIS) Hello again! Thank you for the latest feature of my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY in your group WISCONSIN FLOWERS AND SCENERY...It is very much appreciated Randy!
Randy Rosenberger
Great capture, Kym, and so adorable! Love the beauty of this piece and the quality and care that went into its composition! It is my pleasure to PROMOTE this piece of beauty on our FEATURED ARTWORK section of the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group. Thanks for sharing! fave and vote Forever, Elvis
Kym Backland
ELLA, The last day of May! Thank you for the feature of my photo OUR CARVING FOR THE WOODS in your group YOUR BEST WORK .. Happy almost June to you !
Kym Backland
MISTYANN, Thank you again for today's (well three days ago) feature of my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY in your group WITHIN THE TREES. I appreciate it MistyAnn... I know it's not a Daisy, it's a Dandelion! But, they didn't make a book or movie with that name... hehe
Kym Backland
MISTYANN, Thank you again for today's (well three days ago) feature of my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY in your group ANYTHING WILD I appreciate it MistyAnn... I know it's not a Daisy, it's a Dandelion!
Tessa Fairey
Another cute baby Kym! You seem to have alot of wild life on your property! How much fun it must be to watch them grow up. v/f
Kym Backland replied:
Tessa, Yes it is fun! Thanks for your kind words, and visits.. I appreciate it, and enjoy them!
Kym Backland
CHARLIE, Hello again! Thank you for the lastest feature of my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY in your group NATURE AND LANDSCAPE...Much appreciated Charlie!
Kume Bryant
Soooooo cute!!! Vf
Kym Backland replied:
Kume, Hello again! Thanks for coming over today and giving the little coonie coo a vote and favorite!
Marcia Colelli
You have a really nice collection of Raccoon pics. I have not been able to get that close to one. Nice work. f/v Love the title
Kym Backland replied:
Marcia, Thanks again for taking the time that you have, to come over and look, and vote and favorite! I appreciate it!
Kym Backland
DORA, I didn't realize this was your group! Thank you for the lastest feature of my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY...(.and yes I know it is really a Dandelion in the photo.). in your group VISIONS OF SPRING...Much appreciated Dora....
Kym Backland
SARAH, Ding, Ding, Ding, It's a triple feature today! Thank you for the lastest feature of my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY...(.and yes I know it is really a Dandelion in the photo.). in your group NATURES BEAUTY...Much appreciated Sarah!
Kym Backland
SHAWN, Happy Springtime! Thanks for the feature today of my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY in your group SEASONS OF BEAUTY.. ... I appreciate it Shawn!
Kym Backland
PHYLLIS, Hello girlfriend! Thanks so much for adding this little feller to your group! I appreciate you featuring my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY in your group FUZZY WARM AND SOFT 2 A DAY... Hope you are having a great weekend!
Christy Usilton
Oh my gosh ... this is just total cuteness!!! :) VF
Kym Backland replied:
Christy, Hello again! Thank you so much for all your comments and compliments today. I guess there really isn't anything cuter than a baby sleeping? No matter what kind of "baby" it is! See ya again soon!
Lee Dos Santos
Wow where do you live Kym? You always have these awesome images of animals. It's almost like they see you and they think "It's Kym! Let me pose for her!" Great shot.
Kym Backland replied:
Lee Dos, I live in a small bedroom community outside of Seattle! Thanks for making me laugh today! Sometimes I do think these animals wait for me and then "strike a pose" like a Madonna song! Thanks for noticing! Your comment made me literally laugh out loud! Hope you have a great day!
Kym Backland
SHARON, Thank you for the double feature of the day! I appreciate you featuring my photo PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISY in your group WOMEN ARTIST - 1 A DAY... I know how much time and dedication it takes to do this! Happy Hump Day....
Petko Pemaro
https://twitter.com/PemaroPetkov/status/300437609874849794
Kym Backland replied:
Petko, Thanks for the TWEET, or adding it to Twitter.. I appreciate it very much!
Zsuzsa Balla
Kym, yr images are interactive ones. I watched yr image, read yr reply to Guy's comment, and I'm lol, lol, lol
Kym Backland replied:
Zsuzsa, Thank you again! I like that you read "All" the comments, and that they are interactive! That's a very interesting thought about things! I'm glad to make you laugh! I love to laugh! It's good for you! See ya again soon!
Guy Ricketts
Love this little baby raccoon, I hope his mom doesn't wander off too far or too often, but he looks adorable here on his dandelion buffet table. Great capture, Kym vf
Kym Backland replied:
Guy, Good Morning! Not to worry about the litte feller! The little raccoon's Mom came back and all is well around the "Dandelion Buffet Table!" <---Loved that phrase Guy! Thanks for your vote and giving it your favorite!
Tannis Baldwin
Hope this little guy is ok. v
Kym Backland replied:
Tannis (What an interesting name!) Beautiful name! Thanks for your vote, and Tannis don't worry the little coonie is fine! I keep a watch out for the little feller!