Rocky Raccoon

Sad news here at Apple Tree Farm. A raccoon has been picking off our hens one or two at a time and all we have left now is a very lonely rooster. David went out one night with the intentions of getting rid of the raccoon but it scurried under the chicken coop before he could get to it. I think he was secretly relieved. This is the guy who sees deer in our backyard and says, “Quick, come see!” instead of “Honey, get my gun!”. And I’m very grateful for that. Still, we are both just barely practical enough to understand that there are times you have to do something you don’t want to do in order to protect livestock.

That is, until this shows up on your back patio:

And you see his little face:

And you know he’s just hungry:

And he gives you this look:

So the plan no longer involves eradication. David will be installing a taller, more secure fence with footings around the bottom to prevent digging under. Oh, and I’m calling him “Rocky”.