Re: interesting visitor

Zem,
There's no question about your feelings, but I'd like to ask the others
about not skunks, but raccoons.  I frequently put out a bowl of cat food for
a stray cat when he comes by, but he never eats it all.  So, when he's done
it's still there in the FL room, which I can see from my tv chair, or
sometimes it's on the carpet just inside the sliding door which I keep open
til I go to bed.  Occasionally a raccoon will come and polish it off, but I
yell at them when they try to come inthe house and they leave, although not
happily.  If they come back several times, within minutes, I shut the door.
I have also put a bowl on the front porch a few times when the cat was out
front.

Last night, a small raccoon came by the FL room but there was no bowl and I
told him he couldn't come in.  A bit later I noticed my cat watching
intently out the front window.  Wehn I went to the front door, there were
mom and 3 little babies, they left the porch with dashed hopes of finding a
meal.  I watched as they lumbered off across the street.

I no longer feed birds except in the one expensive bird feeder that closes
when weight hits the perch.  The raccoons destroyed all other feeders.  The
plants beneath the remaining feeder have been smashed.  I don't like to
encourage racoons in my yard because of the damage they do.  However, I
don't begrudge any animal a meal and I feel badly for their plight.
Watching that mama and babies leave with no luck last night was a sad sight.
I'm thinking about getting a bag of cheap stuff for them, but fear I'll
regret the results.

So what do you all think?  Should I feed the raccoon family?

Kitty

----- Original Message -----
From: <Zemuly@aol.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] interesting visitor


> I have about six skunks who regularly eat my cat food on the front porch,
> along with assorted raccoons and possums.  They are all so accustomed to
people
> that when my grandchildren visit they are able to open my front door and
watch
> the zoo through the storm door.  Keeps them well entertained.  There is
one
> little skunk who eats the cat food in the back yard.  We call him
"Skippy." If
> he sees me coming he "hides" behind an azalea until I've gone.
> zem
> zone 7
> West TN
>
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