Interesting Animal Sighting Near Stately Synchro Manner

Synchro · January 11th, 2009, 09:24 AM

I'll betcha that I'm the only guy on G-T that came nose-to-nose with one of these yesterday:

It's a Coatimundi, a relative of the raccoon family common in Central America and found as far north as AZ. My neighbor and I had been talking about the fact that some sort of animal had been hanging around and digging in my back yard. We knew that whatever it was had to be pretty good sized. About an hour later she called me and said that there was a raccoon in her shed. Raccoons don't live here because they new standing water to survive and we don't have much in the way of standing water around here. The Coatimundi doesn't seem to have that need.

When I got over to the neighbor's place the critter in question was on a shelf about 6 feet off the floor. He seemed more curious that afraid and once he was certain that we weren't going to harm him he got downright calm, going about his business of resting and grooming himself. I climbed a step-ladder to get a look at him (still seperated by about 4 feet laterally) and he just looked at me showing neither fear nor aggression.

After some research I found out that these are kept as pets and even wild Coatimundi will come into places filled with people to forage. While I'm certain that it would turn into a bundle of claws and teeth if I tried to get too close my overall impression was that it could be easily tamed. Several web sites that I visited confirmed this.

Jukebox · January 11th, 2009, 09:27 AM

cool! You never know, it might have been someone's pet!

wenzel · January 11th, 2009, 09:29 AM

That's awesome! I've never seen one of those before. Did you snap that photo? If so, nice shot and quick reaction!!!

Synchro · January 11th, 2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukebox

cool! You never know, it might have been someone's pet!

They're indigenous to the area. I think it was just a male looking for a warm place to call home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wenzel

That's awesome! I've never seen one of those before. Did you snap that photo? If so, nice shot and quick reaction!!!

That picture is from Wikipedia. The one I saw was hiding on a shelf but was friendly and curious as soon as he realized we weren't a threat. I've seen YouTube videos of wild Coati approaching people, begging for and sometimes stealing food.

guitarfarm · January 11th, 2009, 09:52 AM

Very cool. I hear they taste just like chicken.

Last summer a couple of my neighbors reported seeing a large, hairy beast in the area occasionally walking upright and making odd grunting sounds. Fearing for the safety of livestock and small children, the animal control people were called in. It was just my wife's sister who was staying for a visit. Imagine our embarassment.

GreatGretsch · January 11th, 2009, 09:57 AM

That's too funny!!!

Jeff O · January 11th, 2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarfarm

Very cool. I hear they taste just like chicken.

Last summer a couple of my neighbors reported seeing a large, hairy beast in the area occasionally walking upright and making odd grunting sounds. Fearing for the safety of livestock and small children, the animal control people were called in. It was just my wife's sister who was staying for a visit. Imagine our embarassment.

Now THAT'S funny, I don't care WHO you are.

Jukebox · January 11th, 2009, 10:00 AM

I agree! That was funny!

patrickjcrum · January 11th, 2009, 10:14 AM

Wow, I didn't know they lived up here. I hadn't seen one of those since I was in Panama back in my Army Days.

Cool!
Pat

Jeff O · January 11th, 2009, 10:17 AM

MARK !

No Picture !

Send me the link, please. On Wiki all I find is a Coati.

Jhundt · January 11th, 2009, 10:46 AM

that is SO cool... I love seeing unexpected animals, but it happens almost never here in Holland.

But the other day I was driving home and it was ice-cold (we've had a three-week freeze here) and I saw a stork standing one-legged atop a lamp post. And - on the next post stood his mate!

Funny thing was - nobody else noticed. I was at a traffic light; there were cars all around me, pedestrians, bike-riders... and NOBODY looked up and noticed this wonderful sight.

getbent · January 11th, 2009, 12:31 PM

That is a cool animal! I've never heard or seen them before...

nice one Mark! thanks!

Synchro · January 11th, 2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarfarm

Very cool. I hear they taste just like chicken.

Last summer a couple of my neighbors reported seeing a large, hairy beast in the area occasionally walking upright and making odd grunting sounds. Fearing for the safety of livestock and small children, the animal control people were called in. It was just my wife's sister who was staying for a visit. Imagine our embarassment.

Could I get her phone number?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff O

Now THAT'S funny, I don't care WHO you are.

Are you mking fun of what could be the perfect woman for me?

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickjcrum

Wow, I didn't know they lived up here. I hadn't seen one of those since I was in Panama back in my Army Days.

Cool!
Pat

I live pretty much at the northeastern extreme of their range. There are different sub-species and I think these are a little different from the ones in Central America but overall they are the same critter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff O

MARK !

No Picture !

Send me the link, please. On Wiki all I find is a Coati.

Actually, it's the picture that shows when you wiki Coati. The proper name is Coati but most people call them Coatimundi. I guess that Coatimundi actually refers to the males which are much larger than the females. That critter was almost 4 feet long if you count the length of his tail.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhundt

that is SO cool... I love seeing unexpected animals, but it happens almost never here in Holland.

But the other day I was driving home and it was ice-cold (we've had a three-week freeze here) and I saw a stork standing one-legged atop a lamp post. And - on the next post stood his mate!

Funny thing was - nobody else noticed. I was at a traffic light; there were cars all around me, pedestrians, bike-riders... and NOBODY looked up and noticed this wonderful sight.

It's amazing that so many people don't even notice animals around them. I feel very fortunate to live in a place where I can see all sorts of creatures, most of them living side-by-side with humans and doing fine.

We have deer, javalina, cottontails and desert hares. There are skunks, diamondbacks and a few other not-so-nice animals too.

In Europe you have hedgehogs and wild hamsters, both interesting and delightful creatures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

That is a cool animal! I've never heard or seen them before...

nice one Mark! thanks!

It was pretty amazing to see something this big and this wild that had no fear whatsoever of humans. As soon as he knew we'd leave him alone he just went about his business and chilled out. I'm sure he'd have bitten me had I tried to get too close but overall he was about as mellow as a wild creature can be. I hope that he sticks around the neighborhood. There will be plenty of scraps out there for him if he does.

SaltyDog · January 11th, 2009, 01:56 PM

Run, Mark, RUN! - - It's one of them Chupacabras!

Synchro · January 11th, 2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltyDog

Run, Mark, RUN! - - It's one of them Chupacabras!

They ain't so bad when you get to know them.

Otterbean · January 11th, 2009, 02:12 PM

Thats a cool looking critter.

ishtar · January 11th, 2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro

I'll betcha that I'm the only guy on G-T that came nose-to-nose with one of these yesterday.... While I'm certain that it would turn into a bundle of claws and teeth if I tried to get too close my overall impression was that it could be easily tamed. Several web sites that I visited confirmed this.

Wow, this describes my impression of my ex-wife, but she never could be tamed!

Synchro · January 11th, 2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishtar

Wow, this describes my impression of my ex-wife, but she never could be tamed!

We should compare notes some time.

bandstuff8385 · January 25th, 2009, 08:48 PM

Kewl story!

Synchro · January 25th, 2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandstuff8385

Kewl story!

Five days later I had another, very entertaining critter experience.

I had tried to trap the skunk that had been stinking up my yard lately. Trapping a skunk in a small cage prevents them from raising their tale so they are effectively disarmed. When I came home one night my Have-a-heart trap had caught a baby skunk, small enough to raise its tail inside the cage. She was stamping her front feet as I approached, trying to scare me away. Releasing this skunk without getting sprayed wasn't going to be easy. I wasn't going to relocate a juvenile animal in any event, it just didn't seem right. I through an unwanted blanket over the cage and tried to hook a rubber cord to hold the door of the cage open. The little skunk tried to sniff my fingers as I was doing this, apparently she wasn't all that scared anymore.

I managed to avoid getting sprayed although there was plenty of skunk scent in the air. It's just one of those experiences that life rewards you with from time to time and I hope that I never forget it.

Jukebox · January 25th, 2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro

Five days later I had another, very entertaining critter experience.

I had tried to trap the skunk that had been stinking up my yard lately. Trapping a skunk in a small cage prevents them from raising their tale so they are effectively disarmed. When I came home one night my Have-a-heart trap had caught a baby skunk, small enough to raise its tail inside the cage. She was stamping her front feet as I approached, trying to scare me away. Releasing this skunk without getting sprayed wasn't going to be easy. I wasn't going to relocate a juvenile animal in any event, it just didn't seem right. I through an unwanted blanket over the cage and tried to hook a rubber cord to hold the door of the cage open. The little skunk tried to sniff my fingers as I was doing this, apparently she wasn't all that scared anymore.

I managed to avoid getting sprayed although there was plenty of skunk scent in the air. It's just one of those experiences that life rewards you with from time to time and I hope that I never forget it.

That last of the big white hunter!

yettoblaster · January 25th, 2009, 09:21 PM

Our two dogs cornered a skunk in our back yard a couple years ago.

We were ALL sorry that happened...

My oldest brother the camp counselor was taught that if you lift a skunk by its tail it can't brace its front feet on the ground and spray.

Unfortunately one of his charge was too small to hoist the skunk without keeping his arms close enough to his body that the skunk gained a footing on his front and went off.

Synchro · January 25th, 2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukebox

That last of the big white hunter!

I'm fearless I tell ya'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yettoblaster

Our two dogs cornered a skunk in our back yard a couple years ago.

We were ALL sorry that happened...

My oldest brother the camp counselor was taught that if you lift a skunk by its tail it can't brace its front feet on the ground and spray.

Unfortunately one of his charge was too small to hoist the skunk without keeping his arms close enough to his body that the skunk gained a footing on his front and went off.

I know a guy that lifted a skunk by the tail and he claims it worked.

My beagle got sprayed by a skunk years ago and managed to get into the house and made a beeline towards a one week old couch to rub against. What a mess!

bandstuff8385 · January 26th, 2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro

Five days later I had another, very entertaining critter experience.

The little skunk tried to sniff my fingers as I was doing this, apparently she wasn't all that scared anymore.

I managed to avoid getting sprayed although there was plenty of skunk scent in the air. It's just one of those experiences that life rewards you with from time to time and I hope that I never forget it.

Gee Synchro, you must be a skunk-whisperer!

I think many animals can sense whether you're a threat or not.

Years ago, my Dad and I were doing hay when we saw a big old porcupine in a fence bottom.

I walked up to it.

It put up it's quills.

I said , "Hello", told him what a great job he was doing etc. for a minute.

He put his quills back down and I actually managed to pat him on the nose.

He enjoyed it for 3 or 4 minutes, before he turned and walked away.

roadjunkie · January 26th, 2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro

I'm fearless I tell ya'.

I know a guy that lifted a skunk by the tail and he claims it worked.

My beagle got sprayed by a skunk years ago and managed to get into the house and made a beeline towards a one week old couch to rub against. What a mess!

Max tends to roll in deer poop. Makes him think he's hott shiite!

bobkat · January 26th, 2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadjunkie

Max tends to roll in deer poop. Makes him think he's hott shiite!

Remember the Jukebox rule! WE WANT PICTURES!!!

Synchro · January 26th, 2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandstuff8385

Gee Synchro, you must be a skunk-whisperer!

I think many animals can sense whether you're a threat or not.

Years ago, my Dad and I were doing hay when we saw a big old porcupine in a fence bottom.

I walked up to it.

It put up it's quills.

I said , "Hello", told him what a great job he was doing etc. for a minute.

He put his quills back down and I actually managed to pat him on the nose.

He enjoyed it for 3 or 4 minutes, before he turned and walked away.

I had a porcupine meet & greet back in the '80s. I was working and heard all the dogs in the neighborhood start barking. I finally spotted a little porcupine ambling along so I went over to see it. As long as I spoke gently and didn't move too fast he stayed friendly and curious. I didn't pat his nose, wish I'd thought of it.

Jhundt · January 26th, 2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

I think many animals can sense whether you're a threat or not.

I used to use that approach on crazy drunk guys at the Longbranch Saloon in Berkeley CA. I could usually talk 'em down. Sometimes it didn't work...

My friend Kennan lives in Crockett CA. He told me a great story about having a 3-year-olds birthday party in the City Park. He went to deposit some trash in the bin and found that it was FULL of live skunks! His dogs get hit regularly, then they have to fill the bath with tomato juice and dunk-the-dog.

Synchro · January 26th, 2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhundt

My friend Kennan lives in Crockett CA. He told me a great story about having a 3-year-olds birthday party in the City Park. He went to deposit some trash in the bin and found that it was FULL of live skunks! His dogs get hit regularly, then they have to fill the bath with tomato juice and dunk-the-dog.

It can be a real mess when a dog gets skunked but hey; in the big picture it's just another thing to rememebr and laugh at in the future.

bandstuff8385 · January 27th, 2009, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro

I had a porcupine meet & greet back in the '80s. I was working and heard all the dogs in the neighborhood start barking. I finally spotted a little porcupine ambling along so I went over to see it. As long as I spoke gently and didn't move too fast he stayed friendly and curious. I didn't pat his nose, wish I'd thought of it.

Hi Friends!

The porcupine's nose was about the only spot without quills!

Actually, there are even short ones on their nose. I figured it was OK as long as I patted from the nose back up to his head as that's the direction the quills grow.

As for skunks, my 110 lb collie with the long fur had a couple of run ins.

The first time he got it in the eyes and nose so bad he came running to the door in a panic, gasping for breath and crashing into everything.

Of course, we saw this and let him in. He ran through the house and made a good mess of the carpets and furniture.

I had to wrestle him into submission, so I got a good dousing, too.

I threw him back outside into the night. Had to leave him out as we had no tomato juice around.

My clothes went out the door, too.

Showering did something, but I was pretty ripe.

Anyway, the next day, still smelling like Pepe Le Pew, I went to the pet store and got some stuff called "Skunk Kleen" from G.G. Bean company. It's US made, so you'll be able to get it.

You spray it all over the dog, rub it in and it neutralizes the smell to the point you can stand it. It gets it off you, too.

There's still a hint and you'll get a whiff off the dog for a week or so, but it really works.

After that , the dog has only gotten a sample spray from a skunk, but we always have some of that spray around.

Synchro · January 27th, 2009, 09:35 AM

I should invest in some. Skunk sightings are all too frequent at Stately Synchro Manor.