Indecision

On these long days of summer, afternoon stretches into evening and evening into night without changing stride, robbing hours from the dark. Raccoons around here seem to have forgotten that they are nocturnal and the adults appear at all hours of the day. This week, 2 kits showed up with their mother at twilight. They stayed close by her side until some noise or movement startled them and sent them scrambling for the nearest tree. This happened 3 times while I watched, and each time, they climbed a short distance before looking back at their mother, who was still calmly eating her breakfast.

Chagrined, they reconsidered their course of action...

...and slinked back to their mother's side.
Caution is good, but hunger rules.

Evening Encounter

The last couple of evenings, Mama raccoon has brought out her kits.

 

Last night, they were minding their own business (that is, eating)...

...when two of them suddenly scrambled up a nearby tree.

Their anxiety came from the appearance of a doe, 

and they peered back timidly from the side of the tree as if to say, "Is it safe?"

Deciding to risk it, they sidled back down, but after a few tense moments, the raccoon family retreated to the woods.

"Was it something I said?"

Linking with Saturday's Critters