MANY PICTURES SOON!
These 'bandit' masked animals frequent
campground areas and along streams, and frequently will be spotted in Cades
Cove.
The author had a pet raccoon (not recommended!)
and found these animals to be extremely mischievous, and very
intelligent when it came to getting into (and out of) things. The
authors pet (raised from approximately 2 weeks old) would open cabinets
with baby proof locks, turn on water faucets, open jars and spill out
the contents, and even reach out and open animal carriers. So
unless you pack away your food for your camping in a car or locked
cooler, this masked bandit may enjoy your meal before you get a chance.
NOTE: Although raccoons in the wild look
cute and cuddly, raccoons in the wild are NOT pets, and anyone who has
ever seen a full grown raccoon hold off multiple coon dogs slashing with
their sharp claws, and biting with their sharp teeth, would never even
consider trying to pet of pick one up. Enjoy them from a distance,
and remember, feeding any wild animal in the Park could land you an
expensive ticket.
Food favorites include nuts, fruits,
crayfish, fish, reptiles and amphibians, and small mammals.
Raccoons do not actually have to 'wash' their food as is perceived by
some, rather they frequently 'dip' their meal
in water to aid in their eating of it.
