Raccoon

Dear Lilliputian,

Well , as you know , this is a Raccoon . But did you know that the Raccoon is a close relative of the bear family . The Raccoon doesn't look much like a bear . . . but then you and I are relatives and we don't look much like each other . This little creature is smarter than your average cat . It also has 51 sounds that it can make . Some of the sounds are chattering , tweeting , whimpering , purring , whining , snarling , growling , hissing , and the Raccoon can even scream . They also are not very picky when it comes to eating . They eat . . . acorns , leaves , grasshoppers , crickets , worms , frogs , clams , turtles , turtle's eggs , snakes , fish , squirrels , grapes , berries , apples , nuts and eggs , just to name a few . Oh and don't forget Chickens !

Raccoons have very nice little hands . Their hands are a little like ours because they have five fingers and that makes it so they can do rather clever things with their hands . Like , unlock doors , open latches on cages or doors , untie shoe laces , and much , much more . Their hands are very sensitive . . . and scientists today think that is why they are always getting their hands wet and also their food wet . It looks like they are washing their food or hands . . .but scientists think that they do this to heighten their sense of touch . In other words if they are struggling to open a clam shell for their lunch . . . they get their hands wet so they may be able to feel the shell better and be able to open the shell a little easier .

There are a lot of Raccoons that live in Massachusetts where you and I live . . . Once apon a time there was also a President of the United States that lived in this state of ours . His name was President Calvin Coolidge . When he was President he had a pet Raccoon that lived at the White house with him and Mrs . Grace Coolidge . They named their little pet Rebecca . Rebecca didn't think much of the fine big mansion that the President lived in  . . .  but she did love his bath tub . If he put a few inches of water in his tub and bar of soap . . . Rebecca would play for a good hour splashing and slipping while she chased the soap around the tub . Above is a photograph of Mrs . Grace Coolidge holding Rebecca . 

I love any book about a full moon and I like it is even better when it is a book about a full moon with Raccoons in it . This is a fun book to read . . . you should see if it is at your local library . 

Until next time ,

Wildbee