Beware of Masked Invaders Bathing in Your Kiddie Pool

My family and I used to live near a forested park. While raccoons are common in most of North America, we saw them very frequently in that neighborhood. At least once a month, I’d see a family of 2-4 raccoons crossing a street. They’d get into peoples’ trash cans and eat any fruit that was ripening in neighbors’ backyards.

Our kids were toddlers at the time. On hot days, they enjoyed playing with a “water table” that someone had given us. One step down from a kiddie pool, it was a small plastic table with a recessed area that held a few inches of water. The kids would splash and play with cups and waterproof toys on top of the table, usually ending up soaked afterwards. We did not have a swimming pool, but in the summertime, that water table was the next best thing for young kids.

One night, my wife and I awoke to a clatter in the backyard. We had forgotten to drain the water table and had left a few toys around the patio. Some of the toy cups were filled with water still.

When we turned on the outdoor patio light, here is what we saw.

There were four raccoons in our yard, two of them bathing in the water table. We watched as they meticulously cleaned their whole bodies. There was a brush beneath the table that we used for scrubbing it; one of the raccoons actually rolled and twisted itself all around on the brush, which must have felt good. They even used the water-filled cup toys that were strewn around the patio.

Of course, I opened up the patio door and tried to scare them away, but these raccoons thought I was coming out to give them some food. Apparently, some of my neighbors must have been hand-feeding them because they were not scared of humans at all. In fact, the four of them wanted to come right up to me. I waved a broom at them, but they still didn’t believe me.

Raccoons may be cute, but they defecate and can spread disease. So I certainly wasn’t going to feed and encourage them. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I could have used a weapon or been more aggressive. But I saw the water hose and decided that was a better idea.

I sprayed the nearest raccoon in the face. But instead of fleeing, it seemed to enjoy the shower. One of the others actually came over to get into the spray also. These animals are true water lovers.

I keep a machete and some heavier firepower in the garage, but there was no reason to hurt these animals. They already had gotten our stuff dirty and I would have to clean it thoroughly. The damage was done, so there wasn’t any reason to drive them off at this point. I retreated back inside and watched them through the screen door as they finished bathing and eventually moved on to make their rounds through the neighborhood.

If you leave food or water outside, such as in a dog bowl or bird feeder/bird bath, you have no idea who or what visits it during the night. Think that water is still clean the next morning? Think again. Here is a video showing the nocturnal wildlife that appeared in someone’s yard after he set up a trail cam. If you want to know who stops by your home, this is one way to find out.

You might not see any bears, but beware of masked invaders.

Top photo credit: Creative Commons via Flicker by Pfly (that one isn't mine, but it sure looks like the same model of water table). Other photos are mine (property of the author).