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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 23:35:19 GMT
 We were out behind the house last night to get a ladder that we leave back there. We found this animal curled up tight to the basement wall, nestled down in the leaves. Jim thinks it is a hibernating racoon, I think it is a cat that has gone through all nine lives. I can can not detect any chest movement, but I am afraid to touch it in case it is an animal in hibernation. My my big concern is that if it is a dead kitty, someone has probably been searching for it. How would we ever find its family, to give them closure? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 23:38:12 GMT
If this is bothers anyone, I will ask Val to delete it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 23:41:32 GMT
Looks like you're going to have to get a broom and move the leaves away. Hopefully you will get movement. You are kind to worry about the kitty (if it is a kitty) - people are never happy when you call them, but I think later they are glad someone let them know versus never knowing.
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Post by zoesam on Mar 30, 2015 0:56:48 GMT
Although the color looks like raccoon, raccoons have really coarse, long guard hairs, this looks like it has soft, plush fur. I also don't know raccoons to hibernate. Not that I'm an expert, but they seem to be around all the time.
I sure hope it's not what you're thinking! You could I s'pose have it scanned for a chip, but idk how many ppl chip cats; I think that's more of a dog thing.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on Mar 30, 2015 1:01:01 GMT
If it was dead wouldn't it smell? Now I'm really curious, go stand on a latter and give it a gentle poke with a broomstick or something!
It's hard to tell which end is what, is it possible that it got stuck or caught up in something and needs some assistance?
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Post by zoesam on Mar 30, 2015 1:05:34 GMT
DH took a peek, he thinks bunny. That would also fit with the very soft, short coat I'm seeing.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 1:59:59 GMT
Nothing to be stuck on. It appears to be curled up like its sleeping.
It wouldn't stink, because I am in Northern Michigan. We had a snow storm today - again.
I hope it is a bunny. My son in law is going to be in in a few days. I am going to get him to check it out. I'm skeered.
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Post by mykidzmom2 on Mar 30, 2015 3:38:46 GMT
I think it looks like a chinchilla, but I can't tell how big it is. And I don't think chinchillas live in Michigan - maybe an escaped pet?
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Post by jandsknight on Mar 30, 2015 4:09:13 GMT
It looks like the top of a gray, fur hat.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 4:40:40 GMT
Maybe a possum?
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Post by blissfullymiserable on Mar 30, 2015 5:02:37 GMT
well whatever it is, it looks soft and I kind of want to cuddle it (assuming it's just napping)  |
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Post by denise15601 on Mar 30, 2015 14:12:38 GMT
Suspense....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 17:00:48 GMT
I'd get the broom and gently brush the leaves away. Maybe it's wearing a collar that you just can't see?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 23:39:07 GMT
Fur looks soft to me and it doesn't look like a kitty to me. I look forward to hearing what it really is.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 23:43:09 GMT
My vote is possum. Let us know what you find out.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 23:47:38 GMT
On my monitor it looks too big to be a bunny. I vote racoon.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 1:38:22 GMT
Possums are more white, and very little hair. It is fairly big. If it's a cat, it would be a 10 or 12 pounder. I haven't been home during daylight hours today, and won't be tomorrow. I will try to be brave Wednesday and brush the leaves away.
I am scared that if its a hibernating animal, I don't know how they react if poked.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 5:05:07 GMT
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Post by denise15601 on Mar 31, 2015 13:21:06 GMT
Wondering if you throw a net over it before poking it?
Gee-you are making us wait so longggg for this....you are such a tease!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 15:40:12 GMT
*ahem* We're still waiting....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 16:38:37 GMT
Why don't you call animal control?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 17:50:50 GMT
We really don't have many animals that truly hibernate. Possums, squirrels, rabbits and other furried ones with coats that color are not hibernation animals.
The coat looks too short and fine to be possum.
Too light in color to be a woodchuck.
Way too gray and too big....at least the way it looks in the picture...to be a rabbit.
Too big and wrong body shape for a squirrel as well.
Cat or coon would be my guess. Coons can range in color from gray to dark brown. And if it's a coon and out in the daytime there is something wrong with it. Usually rabies. Coons are totally nocturnal.
Honestly with the way it's positioned.... I would assume whatever type of animal it is is either very sick, badly wounded or dead. And ya, me being me I would be the one to first move the leaves away to see what kind of animal I was dealing with. This I would do with a stick...hey I'm a little crazy but not stupid lol. And then if I knew it was a cat I'd walk up to it. A coon.... I'd be calling animal control for them to come and euthanize it if not already dead.
And Zoe...just and FYI. While most people do not chip cats....as in it isn't as common to chip a cat vs a dog, most shelters do chip cats the same as dogs. So if it's a cat it very well could be chipped.
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Post by zoesam on Mar 31, 2015 17:59:21 GMT
Good point abt the shelter chipping cats.
I'm pretty certain it's a bunny. Using the leaves as perspective, the animal doesn't appear that big (unless you have giant leaves). The fur is totally wrong for a raccoon. I think calling animal control is a great idea. I would send my DH to deal with it, but if I didn't have one of those (a DH that is), I would either get a neighbor or call animal control. I'm not nearly as brave as Harley.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 21:28:12 GMT
I'd have poked it already. Of course I might also be here telling a story of how I am now getting shots because I was bit in the leg by a racoon/bunny/ferrel cat. I'm far to curious to let it stay that way. If I lived near you, I'd come over and brush the leaves away.
Sadly I found a sweet kitty under the bushes once, but it was smelly. Wounded animals often go somewhere hidden to die.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 18:31:23 GMT
I moved just enough leaves, and gentlly poked it to determine that it is a dead racoon. Probably the young mom that we had last year, because we have not seen her this year. I covered her back up, because my 11 year old grandson is begging to be the one to solve the mystery when he comes over on Saturday. I think he wants to gross out his girl cousins. I know that he will also safely dispose of it too. |
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Post by zoesam on Apr 1, 2015 18:36:09 GMT
Wow, I'm shocked. That fur looks nothing like raccoon fur & back when I wore fur, I used to have a raccoon coat. I'm sorry that it's passed away though :-(. At least you know what it is & can deal with it now.
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Post by denise15601 on Apr 1, 2015 21:05:27 GMT
Thanks for letting us know! No more sleepless nights now....
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 21:21:14 GMT
Awww, poor little raccoon.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 21:33:23 GMT
Poor raccoon. But it's cool that you're letting your grandson make the big discovery |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 23:05:45 GMT
Poor raccoon. We had one at work we thought was dead, until it moved. We had to call a wildlife rescue to come get it, but they weren't able to save it.
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