Posted on 08/08/2006 9:02:34 AM PDT by cstorm
I'm a native Floridian that never thought she would fear wildlife. I learned to water ski in Lake Kissimmee with alligators; stepped on Water Mocassins, you name it I was raised in the country. But yesterday morning, changed my life. For those of you that have never had an experience with wild animals; here is a true story. I was up at 5:15 a.m. My husband and I have 2 yorkies, well known for being ratters. The female isn't responsive to being a ratter, but the 13 year old male can snap a rabbits neck in a second and there be no sign of capture. He will just sit next to it and say, did I do good?
The outside lights were not working and as I always do, I put their runs on and opened the door. Buster saw the raccoon before I did and went straight for it. Their teeth are extremely sharp, like a cat. The raccoon snapped his leash, picked him up and threw him into the corner of our front door. I was trying hard to get my female in and all I could hear was my Buster screaming. I had gotten Billie in, but when I went out the raccoon was on top of Buster; I had no choice; I kicked the coon into the yard and grabbed Buster.
We were very fortunate. I was not bitten, the coon is not rabid, Buster was in severe shock and is going to lose most of his teeth this Thursday because he was bitten many time in his mouth. But we're both ok.
My point is this; don't misjudge nature. It's so easy to to get caught up in the beauty of it and let your nerve down. We live backed up to one of Florida's most natural wildlife sanctuaries. When there is a misplaced animal, such as recently a bobcat, the wildlife preserve leaves them here. We also travel to other countries, where for example in Costa Rica, you can hold the raccoons. They sleep in your arms and eat from your hands; but wildlife is not like that everywhere.
I am very fortunate that Buster did not have to be quarantined, otherwise I would have put him down at his ripe old age. My animals are so very important to me. I love them with all of my heart, but my message to all of you is be cautious; you never know when something like this might happen to you.
Holy crap! Poor Buster . . . he could have lost an eye! I'm glad he'll be okay.
A few months back, the Dread Boston Salty tangled with the possum under our deck. Thing had to be 12 pounds, and it scratched hell out of Salty's head and bit him on the chin. He had a puncture and quite a few scratches, so we rinsed him off in the tub and Bactined him up.
We were most worried about his left eye, which had gotten scratched, but it was a very minor scratch and was mostly gone by the time we got to the vet.
A raccoon once bit my sister.
Looks like love.
Racoons frequently bite my garbage cans...then they knock them over
Is this a photoshop pix? Whatever, it is funny as hell! 8-)
Could my first wife come over and play in your yard? I'll supply the 4 stakes and the rope.
LOL, kinky, the pooch doesn't seem to mind
Wow, you signed up today, just to tell us this story.
A racoon once jumped out of a tree and landed on my head. I don't know what hurt more, the scratches from the coon, or the lumps on my head from my brother's rifle butt as he was trying to get the coon off me.
Call your local coonhound club and ask them to trap that critter for you.
I don't care!
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