
Imagine You Are A Raccoon: Week 7
A weekly series by Brad Gates, B.Sc. Stay tuned each Wednesday for the continuation of this story!
The rise in the outside temperature signals that it would be advantageous to look for food.
As you exit the attic on to the roof you realize that the intruder is not letting you out of his sight. Over the next few nights you begin to dismiss the thought that your companion has any threatening intentions. However, you maintain your personal space resorting to vocalizing displeasure and nipping him when he gets too close.
Gradually, as nature takes its course, you begin to experience biological changes allowing your companion to get close and even nuzzle with you. Soon, you are accepting his advances and subsequently allow him to mate with you. Mating occurs a few times over the next three days until you begin to deny him any further advances. Disgruntled, the male leaves to locate another female raccoon somewhere else and repeat this ritual. As temperatures begin to fall you once again curl up in the attic and fall asleep awaiting the return of warmer weather.