I’ve been meaning to share this Raccoon photo since April. This image was taken on my second trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma this spring.

Raccoon in a tree in morning light, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OklahomaRaccoon in a tree in morning light – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 1250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I saw this Raccoon in a heavily wooded area between two fields at the refuge, right across the road from a pair of Barred Owls in a tree.

The Raccoon was obviously getting ready to snuggle down for a nap, so I took several photos of it. The warm morning light looked absolutely wonderful on its coat.

It has been a real treat for me to see so many Raccoons in Oklahoma. I never saw many of them in Utah while I lived there. I used to see them frequently when I lived in Florida, but I was more focused on improving my bird photography at that time.

Seeing Raccoons here, wandering the roads, feeding, and with their young has brought me much joy.

It isn’t all that unusual to see Raccoons during the daytime, and it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with them if you do. While Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, they can be active during the day for several reasons, including food scarcity, maternal responsibilities, and habitat disturbances.

Human activities, such as construction, landscaping, farming, or hunting can disrupt raccoon habitats. When their dens are disturbed, raccoons may adapt by foraging during the day to find new resources or safe havens.

I’ve often seen a raccoon in the same general area where I took the photo above. She was a female, and I’ve seen her nearby with her cubs.

It is always a pleasure to have a raccoon in my viewfinder!

Life is good.

Mia

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