Yesterday I found a trio of young Raccoons at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and was able to take a series of images of them from inside my Jeep as they cautiously checked me out.

Trio of Raccoon cubs next to a marsh, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahTrio of Raccoon cubs next to a marsh – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

  I have seen the young of raccoons called both cubs and kits while doing on line searches and though I am still not sure which terminology is correct I can say that they are cute little critters.

I don’t see raccoons often and have few opportunities to photograph them so I was happy to see them.

Raccoon cubs at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahRaccoon cubs at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

Raccoons are not native to the state of Utah but since they adapt well to human presence and are opportunistic in nature they have expanded their range into the Rocky Mountain area and into the Great Basin. There are some online sources that say hunters brought raccoons to Utah but even if that were true it is still highly probable that some have made their way here on their own following human habitation in Utah.

The marshes along the Great Salt Lake provide good habit for the raccoons which includes shelter and an ample food supply.

Raccoon cub at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahRaccoon cub at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

This group of three young raccoons were cautious in my presence but I am glad they gave me the opportunity to photograph them. I wasn’t with them long because I felt that they were stressed by my presence and because I had seen them traveling south on the road I felt that me and my Jeep might be preventing them from moving in that direction because I had stopped south of them to get better light. Raccoons may be considered pests by many people in Utah but I don’t and I didn’t want to stress them.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Raccoon photos plus facts and information about this species.