Sunday, July 22, 2007

Attack Raccoon

I was nearly attacked by a raccoon on the Minnesota River Bottoms Trail on Saturday, I saw this little guy sitting and eating something so I rolled to a gentle stop. I didn't want to spook him. My riding buddy and I sat very quietly and watched him for several seconds. I made a little noise and the raccoon didn't notice. So I dug my phone out and took three pictures.

I made another noise and he turned toward us finally. He put his back up and started to walk menacingly at us. I laughed, because he was a very young raccoon. He acted like a Joe Pesci raccoon. "What are you lookin' at?" I think this little guy wanted to put up a fight instead of flight. Maybe that's the way all raccoons are, but I've never been this close to one.

After we yelled at him and rang our bike bells, he turned away and ran down the trail.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had one do much the same thing when I encountered him on a run. Thank goodness he finally took off. I really didn't want to turn around and run in the same direction I had just come from!

Anonymous said...

Must be "standard procedure" for encounters with humans. :-)

Jim Thill said...

My grandfather was cornered in his barn by an angry raccoon. He ended up killing it with a pitchfork.

Jackrabbit Slim said...

Was that after he found the woodtick on his eye that morning?

3-speed forgot to mention that after given ample time to run away into the woods, this lil critter continued down the path so that we were chasing it noisily hoping it would finally take a R or L which it finally did. It's probably mauling a squirrel as we speak!

Jim Thill said...

I'm the one who had the eyeball woodtick. For some reason, I detect a hint of incredulity in your tone Slim.

rigtenzin said...

It's not funny. I was already having nightmares about a mountain lion eating me and now I have to worry about angry raccoons mauling my ass.

Eclectchick said...

Joe Pesci raccoon?? Haaaaaa!!

Um, it wasn't foaming at the mouth, was it . . . Cujo raccoon.

amidnightrider said...

In my younger days, I met a woman in a bar who had two black eyes. She fell down hiking she said. After a few cold ones we went for a walk in the park across the street. She became a little frisky if you know what I mean.

What I'm saying is, I know what it feel like to be assaulted by a Joe Pesci raccoon. It ain't pretty. Actually it wasn't that bad after I put a flag over my head and decided to do it for my country.

Jackrabbit Slim said...

when are you posting again? I'm catching up : P