We don't see the small juvenile raccoon about any longer. He was our constant visitor for months in late winter and early spring. But he was quite fastidious about what he liked and what he spurned. The Cheerios that Irving used to put out for the squirrels had little appeal for him. It was altogether different with the Arrowroot-type cookies though; those he particularly took a fancy to. So much so that if there were only Cheerios on the porch when he came around, he would wait until his presence was noted, hovering under the wrought-iron bench, prepared to claim his reward when the cookies were put out for him.

He wasn't shy about his preference. He would stay there, under the bench, unmoving while Irving went out on the porch with the cookies, then moved right in to take possession of his due as soon as Irving slipped back into the house. Since the Cheerios and the cookies were replaced a month ago, and peanuts became the regular fare for the squirrels and chipmunks, our little raccoon teen hasn't returned. Or so we think; he could of course be coming around in the late night hours. It had been his custom to show up in bright daylight to claim his cookies.

In his absence, more various groups of squirrels and chipmunks have come around, including small rabbits. Some of the wildlife have distinguishing characteristics enabling us to recognize them. There are some squirrels that are notable for their size; some very large, some very small for their breed. Others, like black squirrels with red tails distinguish themselves. Some come around at reliable times, making it a habit that we expect to see them  at a certain time. Some arrive singly some in pairs and even threes. Some are quarrelsome, some edgily get along.

There is one Momma raccoon who seems small in her adult size and she comes along sporadically with two kits. Our more frequent visitor is a much larger Momma raccoon with a brood of five kits. The mother doesn't completely relax, though there are times when she'll splay out on the porch and just lazily reach out for peanuts, surrounded by her babies, themselves busy nibbling peanuts. Some of the kits seem clingy-close to their mother, others are more adventurous, climbing the brick pillar in front of the porch, clambering down onto the bench before dropping to the porch floor.

But they are alert to any warning signals or sounds that danger may lurk. Mostly it's the mother, but the kits too have learned to be alert and aware, and will disappear in a flash if they're frightened. They never look toward our glass fronted door where we stand, watching them. Their attention is focused on the street in front of the house, though our garden trees and shrubs shield the front of the house from view from the street. They swiftly disappear through the porch surround pillars if they're alarmed enough. And just as quickly reappear, once they're reassured.

It's fascinating to stand there, watching their movements, their behaviour, and extremely endearing focus on the matter at hand. We're grateful they don't mind putting on a show for us time and again. Jackie and Jillie have become accustomed to their appearances, no longer barking, but even if they do, the raccoons seem, like the squirrels, to pay no mind and just get on with the work of stuffing their little faces with peanuts.

Sometimes the Momma raccoon of the five kits will make herself scarce, leaving her babies on the porch on their own. Even so, it doesn't take a brilliant tactician to know that whatever she's engaged in, she isn't far from where they are, and ready to react protectively should any threat arise. The kits themselves have amply demonstrated their capacity for swift fading if they feel threatened. They've been well taught, and like all wildlife have an acute sense of potential danger, looking out constantly for any possible danger signals to respond to by vacating the premises.