But along came Chester that night. He's a curious little guy so he went in the trap to check it out even though there was no food to entice him. Phil walked outside the next morning to find Chester in the cage staring at him. Phil could tell he was a young adolescent raccoon. So what to do? Drive him down the mountain to Dillard? Give him to the coon hunters for dog training? Phil couldn't do it. He took the cage to the little path beside Two Holt, opened it, and watched as Chester ran to the closest dogwood tree and climbed it to the top. Later in the day, Chester was gone. It's been a week and Chester hasn't come back for a visit. I hope he's moved on to another little cabin to visit on his rounds and I hope he grows to be an old, fat, happy coon.
Every night this little raccoon came around Two Holt. He walked right up to the screen door and looked inside. I named him Chester. Phil was talking to the electrician about the raccoon and the next day the electrician brought a trap with him. He told Phil to put food in it and he would catch the raccoon. He also told Phil that he would have to drive him down the mountain to release him or he would find his way back. Or, he said, take him to the hardware store and one of the guys there would take him to train their hunting dogs. I was horrified! I begged Phil not to catch Chester. I reminded Phil that Chester lived there year-round while we were only there late spring through fall. I reminded him that Chester had probably lived there before we ever thought of buying Two Holt. Phil assured me that he would not capture Chester. He left the trap for the electrician to take back home.
But along came Chester that night. He's a curious little guy so he went in the trap to check it out even though there was no food to entice him. Phil walked outside the next morning to find Chester in the cage staring at him. Phil could tell he was a young adolescent raccoon. So what to do? Drive him down the mountain to Dillard? Give him to the coon hunters for dog training? Phil couldn't do it. He took the cage to the little path beside Two Holt, opened it, and watched as Chester ran to the closest dogwood tree and climbed it to the top. Later in the day, Chester was gone. It's been a week and Chester hasn't come back for a visit. I hope he's moved on to another little cabin to visit on his rounds and I hope he grows to be an old, fat, happy coon.
2 Comments
Larry Elder
10/17/2012 08:42:18 am
You have a wonderfully kind and caring heart, Sharon. Reminds me a lot of another Sharon we know and love, even though she's no longer with us in her earthly body. She fed wild raccoons on her back deck for years, going through many 40-lb. bags of Ol' Roy dogfood in the process. Bless you both, as well as Chester.
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Larry Elder
10/17/2012 08:44:47 am
What I said about Sharon goes for you too, Phil. Bravo for you for not harming this little guy. As the saying goes, "Bless the beasts and the children, for in this world they have no choice, they have no voice."
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Phil & SharonMarried 40 years and hoping to enjoy many more! Archives
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