‘E eep, eeep, eeep.”
That’s my impression of raccoons at play. Rumble, tumble, curled in a ball, two baby raccoons rolled around my backyard one recent 3 a.m., like puppies at play.
Cute as it was, it made me sad to perch on a windowsill, watching critters careen in the moonlight. My Mill Creek neighbors keep tight lids on garbage cans. We don’t feed pets outdoors. Where were the raccoons off to, skipping from fence to fence? Where would they find breakfast? Why do they live in the city?
We all know why wild animals have to be our neighbors. Development mows down their habitat. I’m sorry if I am not sympathetic when a cougar eats a cat. Cougars get hungry. We want them to disappear but they have no place to go because of humans.
One recent afternoon, Laura Christenson of Arlington photographed a beautiful critter at her Macadamia Ranch, also called “The Nut Farm,” because of all her different animals. The animals were acting strange so she looked in a pen.
“I saw what I thought was the neighbor’s black Lab harassing my goats again,” Christenson said. “I grabbed my trusty broom and proceeded to go out there to smack him and chase him away.”
When she got within 20 feet of the dog, the Lab stood up on hind legs and grunted. “It was a bear,” she said. “A very big and very beautiful black bear”
She dropped her broom, turned around, and ran as fast as her 47-year-old self-described not-so-little legs would carry her.
“I grabbed my digital camera and went back out. I wanted to stand by and make sure this bear did not decide to snack on any of my livestock.”
Probably not recommended when you want a bear to skedaddle, she tossed it about 40 apples and pears. The bear gobbled the sweet lunch.
Still not satisfied, the bear scoped out the goat pen.
“She stopped and ate what was left of my blueberries and proceeded down to my pond for a drink,” Christenson said. “My donkey was going to have no part of that, so she decided to try and charge the bear.”
Sorry, donkey, the bear charged back.
“Poor old Izzabelle ran (almost) as fast as I did. The bear was walking all over my yard, making a half-hearted effort to catch a roaming chicken, then went back to eating blackberries.”
There was another surprise visitor. The bear stood up and made a huffing sound.
“Out of the corner of my eye I saw something else black moving,” she said. “When I looked, I saw a baby bear scurrying up my maple tree. Mama continued to eat blackberries while I continued to take pictures.”
Each time the camera flashed, Mama would pause and look at the photographer, no more than 30 feet away across a ravine.
Mama and baby strolled into the woods after two hours.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is attempting to trap both bears. Workers placed chocolate doughnuts and honey inside a trap at Macadamia Ranch. There have been numerous bear sightings in the area, Christenson said.
“They are hoping to be able to trap and relocate this beautiful little family,” Christenson said. “I will never forget this experience. I had never seen a live bear before. She was huge. I also have a bobcat that I have been taking pictures of for months. He’s to the point now where he will sit and pose for me.”
Too bad all critters don’t have pretty forests, meadows or mountains to call home. Development has sadly skewed life for bobcats and bears in Arlington and raccoons in Mill Creek.
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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