Another Discovery Through Walking

I can't believe how much I get to see just because the boys encourage me to get outside and walk every day.  Truly, I think I'd miss 90% of what's happening around here, if it wasn't for their daily insistence on getting out for a constitutional.

This morning gave me another perfect example.

What do you see in this photo?  Anything besides a messy tangle of trees and vines?

Look a little closer!

As I followed the path beside the draw this morning, I noticed a bit of movement further in, among some vines by the ground.  At first, I thought I was seeing a big feral cat...but a moment's observation showed me what it really was!

Unhurriedly, but without stopping, the raccoon climbed the vines, seeming to pause only briefly to check me out.

He (she?) clambered onto the branch...

walked along it without changing pace...

climbed onto the trunk...

and disappeared!  One moment it was there and the next moment it was gone.  I watched for a couple minutes more, but saw no further movement.

So I continued on, along the west side of the draw, looking more closely at the tree (especially the area where the raccoon disappeared) when I came closer.  Nothing obvious there....

Then I went around to the east side of the draw...and this is what I saw through the brush.

Walking a little further on, I was able to get an even clearer view.

That, however, was the best I could do without getting on to the muddy, overgrown floor of the draw itself.

I've occasionally seen tracks I thought were raccoon.  Now I've seen who made them!