Picture of the day - June 24, 2007

This raccoon really was a bandit!

Photo courtesy of Winston Rockwell. Today's picture features a cute little raccoon that photographer Winston Rockwell caught red-handed stealing cherries right from the tree! Here is his story behind the image: "I had stepped out onto my deck to enjoy the evening air, and noticed the branches of my cherry tree moving... not a sign of something amiss, but in this case, there was no wind, and the movement was confined to a small area on one side of the tree. I walked halfway across the yard, and saw this raccoon foraging for cherries among the branches. I'd been wondering why that tree had so few fruit this year! Anyway, I hurried back into the house and grabbed my camera, then went back outside to confront the little bandit. The 'coon was definitely not afraid of me, though she did peer at me with some curiosity to make sure the funny object in front of my face wasn't dangerous. Once satisfied I meant her no harm, she went about her business, scrambling among the branches searching for more cherries. She finally had her fill, and climbed along a branch onto the neighbor's roof, where she disappeared. She was back the next night, but farther up in the tree, and from what I can tell, there's not a cherry left for me! Oh well... they weren't very good this year anyway..."  - Winston Rockwell Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!            Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"