These beautiful Wetlands are home to many of the birds I write about on Birder’s Journey. But they are also a favorite habitat for several species of turtles and fish, American alligators, and mammals such as river otters, the occasional bobcat, and of course, our local Raccoons, like this little family below.☺️
Unlike up north, where we feared rabies if we spotted raccoons out during the day, our raccoons in Florida “are nocturnal but can be active during the day, which is not an indication of illness.” For additional info about Florida Raccoons, see this article at Florida Fish & Wildlife Service.
Birder's Journey 
really adorable. l love this picture!!!
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Agreed! Thank you so much, Yishai!
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They certainly are sweet! It’s nice to see them in the wild, we see them in the city sometimes, development has forced some out of the forests.
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I fear that development here in Florida is also having an impact on them, Belinda. I’m so glad they can live happily in our many constructed wetlands, parks, wildlife refuges, and preserves.
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Sweet family. I am sure that we have plenty nearby in our neighborhood but haven’t seen one in ages. Sometimes I hear one “chirping” at night outside our windows so they are around. Haven’t heard of a rabid one in a long time.
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It’s interesting to me, a former upstate New Yorker, to see how common they also are here in Florida!
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Wonderful!
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It was fun to see them, Cindy!
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The wetlands are stunning and the racoons are so interesting and so much more beautiful than they are presented in cartoons. I have never seen a racoon (hence referencing cartoons!) and so I really enjoyed your videos of this wild family.
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Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, Carol. An interesting reminder how very different our wildlife is from yours, in so many ways!
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Always a good day when you bump into the raccoons, nicely done 😃😃
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Thanks, Ted! Another observant birder pointed them out!
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The racoons are really cute! That looks like a wonderful area for wildlife to live in. 🙂
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And wonderful for birders, photographers, and walkers, too! It’s such a special place…We’re blessed to be so nearby!
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You are – and it’s lovely for us to get the benefit too!
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How fun! Raccoons can have a nasty temper, but I always find them charming in spite of that.
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Maybe because they have such cute faces!☺️
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This family certainly chose a beautiful neighbourhood to settle in!
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Very true, de Wets, and they have lots of thickly shaded wooded areas to hide in.☺️
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Nice to take a step back and see the big picture of your wetlands. These are great images of the environment, Carol, especially with the cloud reflections in the water. The “family” was fun to watch, too.
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Thanks, Ellen. I really should post ‘big picture’ photos more often! ☀️
It’s such a wonderful environment-I sometimes forget how important it is to share the context. 🌴😎
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Wetland habitat is home to so much life!
I reckon that’s why we keep visiting. Beautiful photographs.
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Thanks, Wally! Yes, we’re so fortunate. And it’s so essential to protect our wetlands!
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Adorable!
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☺️ Thanks, Donna!
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