K: Holy!
E: Was that really a raccoon?
K: I think so, and it just went under our house. Just how big do you think it is?
E: Big.
K: Is it as big as a small Labrador?
E: No.
K: Is it as big as a bull dog?
E: Maybe.
K: I think it is the biggest raccoon I've ever seen! It had to be a 30lb coon!
Further research reveals:
"Adult raccoons may be anywhere from 24 to 40 inches in length (including 8-12 inches for tail) and weigh 14 to 40 pounds depending upon locale (larger raccoons in the north) and sex (males are larger than females). Average is about 3 feet and 25-30 pounds. Captive raccoons can weigh considerably more than their wild neighbors and they have a tendency to obesity."
....further research might also indicate that local raccoons can get *huge* (that's the scientific term, I'm pretty sure) and MEAN. Avoid at all costs.
ReplyDeleteI learned my lesson. I did not try and "save" the raccoon. Instead, our foundation contractor sent two of his employees over to crawl under the house, check for the coon and then board it up. It was pretty great.
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