dhochadel's Identifications

Adult male observed in roadway. 79 degrees F. Snout/vent length: 20”, tail 5.5”. With Gary Heyroth. Imaged only. GTS 4559.

Investigating trematodes in oral cavity noticed on defensive death feigning behavior. See third image.

Same as: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215105934

As I stepped outside, this animal was crouched only about four meters away from me, quietly mumbling or whimpering almost continuously. It jumped into a basement window well, so I went inside to close the window before it tried to hide in the basement. When I came back outside, I followed it around the house and snapped a few pictures.

It was fairly large, but seemed underweight and scruffy, and waddled with its back very tightly arched, giving the impression that it was deformed or in pain. A puzzling and disturbing sight. I'm sure that if my neighbors had seen it, they'd have shot it to "put it out of its misery" (and in fear of rabies). In the end, it made its way into some brush and I lost sight of it.

Raccoons are a pretty common sight around here, but many locals consider them disease carrying pests and menaces to be trapped or shot on sight. A lot of people here used to hunt them at night with dogs ("Coon Hounds"), wearing Miners' lamps on their hunting caps. One used to hear the hounds at night in the woods frequently. I guess they got money for the pelts back then, just like one would for Muskrats' or Foxes'.

Me, I just like to watch them. I keep my distance though, especially when they look sickly.