A raccoon of higher learning

When I first saw the police officer outside Manitou schools' SILC (Shared Integrated Learning Center) building, I thought perhaps it had been hit by vandals again.

Apparently the draw was nothing more than a curious raccoon that had wandered up the steps and along a ledge to camp out in the sunshine. You wouldn't think concrete would be too comfortable, but you can't beat the view.

By the time a few hundred kids and teachers had tromped up and down the stairs underneath its sleeping perch, the raccoon was ticked.

MSHS freshman Chris Hollingsworth described the critter as "really cranky."

Animal control was hanging out, waiting and watching.

And raccoons can climb

There I was, out in the garden, laying more mulch and pulling weeds in the last minutes of daylight when I felt the stare from the raspberry bushes.

A large raccoon sauntered out. Then 3 babes. My son and I talked watched them awhile then went into the house for a camera.





Later they reappeared out from underneath the next-door neighbor's deck - Mama and 5 babes - climbing the apricot tree and ...





learning to climb stairs the hard way. Typical kids.

I've asked them kindly to not dig up the grass and flowers. We'll see.