Arbor Heights “masked bandits” caught on camera

| Arbor Heights | Wildlife

From “Trick” in Arbor Heights, who thought his pix might suit the lighter side of Crime Watch, once he survived the two-on-one staredown!

JenV April 15, 2008 (8:50 pm)

I don’t mind saying that is the cutest damn thing I have ever seen. :D

Johnston April 15, 2008 (8:55 pm)

Great pics! I’ve seen similar suspects in my yard on occasion. I’ll get a shot (with my camera!) if I can…maybe it’s one of those gangs!!!

TheVelvetBulldog April 15, 2008 (8:57 pm)

OMG – cute until they come into your HOUSE! My new little place has a cat door, oh, I mean a RACCOON door. Stayed home sick a couple of weeks ago and out of the corner of my eye saw my cat get into defense stance and start backing up. I peeked around the corner and there’s a !@#$! raccoon looking back at me!! I yelled and clapped my hands and it went back out the cat/raccoon door – which is now locked and blocked. I prefer my wildlife OUTDOORS thankyouverymuch. I THOUGHT the cats had been eating an awful lot lately…

theyellowdart April 15, 2008 (9:10 pm)

But they are so cute in photos and from a distance!

PSPS April 15, 2008 (9:16 pm)

Yes, they’re resourceful critters. I see the occasional family going through my back yard at night on a “shopping trip” — especially when there’s fruit on the trees!
.
I always thought raccoons were nocturnal and only came out in the daytime if they were, um, “sick.” But they do sleep in trees, and this bunch may have been rousted from their usual daytime slumber.
.
It’s a hoot to find one sleeping in a tree. They have this uncanny knack of perfectly balancing their bulbous bodies at the inside end of a branch where it meets the trunk.

JumboJim April 15, 2008 (9:18 pm)

They may do some annoying things in your yard (as they do in mine) but they really *are* darn cute. Knowing how curious and mischevious they are just adds to the cute/annoying factor.
Nice pics!

Trick April 15, 2008 (11:17 pm)

They’re cute until you get near them, and they tend to win during the “stare down”.

I gently skipped back inside and locked my door unconsciously.

WSG April 16, 2008 (8:22 am)

Maybe we could give them radar guns so they can catch the speeders on SW 106th St!!!!

Doesn’t anyone notice and pay attention to the speed limit on that street?

J April 16, 2008 (8:38 am)

They sure look guilty to me…

MargL April 16, 2008 (8:39 am)

I just saw one bandit out for a morning constitutional in our Arbor Heights backyard today. I’m hoping it’s not a family taking residence under our deck!

Michele April 16, 2008 (9:38 am)

Wonderful photos! They are so darn cute.

I have a little family (4 of the cuties) that live in the giant pine tree in the next lot over from me. With all of the gardening (yes, after dark…I’ve got a large light back there) I have been doing they have decided that I’m pretty safe to be around and keep me company out there while I’m planting!

CFL April 16, 2008 (9:38 am)

There’s a Youtube video out there of a racoon entering a pet door and stealing a rug. It’s pretty darn funny… If you do a search for it, it should pop up…

OP April 16, 2008 (9:55 am)

We saw a bigâ€”this critter was bigâ€”racoon crossing the street last night on Lincoln Park Wy SW just before hitting Breach Dr. He/she scooted off into the small greenbelt area between Murray Ave and 48th SW.

Cute, but don’t mess with ’em.

Highlandparkneighbor April 16, 2008 (11:23 am)

“lighter side of crime watch…”
Funny. (and great photos). thanks!

northad April 16, 2008 (9:00 pm)

cute or not… we’re sick to death of cleaning up our garbage cans. They come into the yard at night and all the dogs in the neighborhood light up.

Please don’t feed them. Or… feed them in your neighborhood. But if you live in north admiral, honestly, have some common sense.

WSeattle_sept2006 April 18, 2008 (12:31 am)

about 2 months ago, was at our neigbor-across-the-street’s house and happened to look out towards our house. Was scared/excited to see a ‘band’ of about 12 racoons scurrying from our yard to the house we were in. Thought they were coming for the evening party, instead they just used the yard for through transit.

Sorry, comment time is over.