The sun has set, and in the fading light a family of raccoons, parents and four little ones, comes cautiously out of the woods. Their masked faces make them look like little burglars, which they often are. Tonight they head fora tree loaded with ripe plums. The cubs remain on the ground while the parents climb up and start shaking branches, causing a shower of plums to fall. While the cubs are eating them, the adults continue shaking the tree until the ground is covered with fruit. Then they climb down and join the dinner.
This fruit dinner is an extra treat. They eat mostly frogs, crayfish, turtle eggs and clams taken out of shallow waters. Birds’ eggs are a favorite, too. They will run off from a hen house with an egg in their teeth, never breaking it until they reach safety. Sweet corn is another special treat. Many cornfields have been ruined by their stripping ears from the stalks.
Although they weigh only about 25 pounds, many a dog is surprised at their fighting ability. They do not hesitate to attack a dog two or three times their own size. They are clever also at escaping pursuing dogs by wading in water, running along fence tops, climbing trees, backtracking and leaping down a hillside to break the scent trail the dogs are following. Occasionally one may let a dog chase it into a lake, then grabbing the dog by its neck, force its head under water until it drowns.
In spite of its sometimes nasty nature, a raccoon is a pretty animal. Its fox-like face with a black mask around jet-black eyes, erect ears, black, button nose and whiskers, and bushy, ringed tail all add to its charm. It is also very smart and soon discovers how to open latches on chicken coops, pry up windows, unscrew bottle tops, and even open refrigerators. For “fun” it will open drawers and scatter the contents all around.
This animal is another of the wonders of God’s creation. He has given it many life-sustaining instincts and also an intelligence which allows it to learn things necessary for its survival. It is found both in the meadowed woods of the United States and Canada and in the deserts of Mexico and South America. Its life reminds us of the verse in the Bible: “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works... The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psalms 145:9,15,169The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145:9)
15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. 16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:15‑16).
We think of these provisions of the Creator in connection with every creature, but it is also good to remember the prayer that should be in the heart of every boy and girl: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.... O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalms 90:12,1412So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14).
ML-10/03/1982