Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-11-02
Habits of the Raccoon.

The placing of the raccoon on the list
of game animals by several States is a
recognition, though tardy, OF the posi-
bilities OF this willy little beast as source
of sport. AS matter of fact the coon has
for several years past been coming into
its own again.
"Why the coon came to be so despised
by sportsmen of our day." said hunter
whose ideas of game are not limited to
woodcock or deer or grouse, ''iS some
thing | never could understand. 1t
wasn't so many years ago that the COL
onel and the squire and the dominic and
the deacon were nightly hounderS OF the
coon. There was sport for our fathers in
the coon hunt, and in measure mans
importance in some rural communities IN
those days came from the number OF coon
skins he could nail to his barn door next
morning after hunt.
at is doubtful whether there are many
people who know that nowhere on the
globe except on the American continent
can the coon be found and that while ira
dition and contemporary impression fixes
the South as the paradise OF the fat night
prowling little creature it is nowhere so
abundant, gamy and excellent in condi-
ton as in New England and the middle
States. Even in localities where coonS
are most plentiful nine out OF ten persons
of the present generation never saw one.
"Although the coon prefers the vicinity
OF civilization as its habitat, it plans to
keep aloof from the sight of men, and its
habits make that an easy task. BY day
il lies close in out of the way retreats, in
the depths of hollow trees or in almost
inaccessible holes and creviceS among
the rocks. 1t wanders forth at night, and
although its foraging expeditions may
take it to the very doors OF farm houses,
particularly the hen-house door, and even
within the boundary lines OF villages, 1t
seldom betrays its presence, so cautious
is if and so well planned are its methods.
eff during hunt more than one coon
is brought to bay in tree they will al
most invariable be found to be females or
a mother coon and her offspring. The
female brings forth her young only once
in two years, and from the coming OF one
litter, so hunters declare, until the arrival
OF another she and her young are never
separated. When her young reed pro-
lection she will fight in defence OF them
until she dies. Many a good coon dog
has been forced to retreat before the fury
of she coon fighting for her family.
"While the female is social and domeS-
tic, the male is quite the reverse. He is
surly and solitary, ranges alone and gives
no attention whatever TO matters affect
ing the welfare of the family. If two
males happen to meet on their travels
there is sure to be fight, and fierce
one, often to the death. The male coon
makes his range for forage much wider
than the female does, and having no one
to look after but himself he more tre-
quently escapes the hunter.
"In the spring and summer the margins
of brooks and ponds and the soft mud in
swamps and bays in any district where
the coon abounds are always thickly in
dented with the graceful footprints OF
that roaming creature, for it spends its
nights in catching frogs, fish, lizards,
grubs, crawfsh and other things that 1--we
in or near the water. Later the coon
ranges among the huckleberry and black
berry patches, and conical little heaps OF
grape skins under clambering wild grape
vines in the woods or under cultivated
vines in the vineyard tell the story OF the
coon's liking for grapes and how the fas-
tidious little beasts feast on them.
"When the milk comes in the corn, the
roasting ear stage, it is gala season for
the epicurean coon, for il loves the ten
der, succulent grains, as the farmer knows
to his sorrow, and great are the risks the
ringtailed forager will take to feast in the
cornfield. When the fruits are gone and
the corn has grown tough in the ear the
nuts are ready, and the coon gets fat on
them and prepares for the comatoSe ex-
istence the coming winter has in store for
him, for like the bear the coon goes to
sleep when winter closes down on its
supplies, and as rule doesn't wake
again until spring weather comes along.
"Old coon hunters say that coon dips
every mouthful of its food in water be-
fore eating it, but like good many other
kinds of hunters, old coon hunters say
lot of things it would bother them to
prove.
"While the coon is by nature strictly
a night forager, it will venture forth on
dark cloudy days in search of something
TO eat, as will the woodcock, a nightfeed-
ing bird. remember that on a dark,
cloudy day had been fishing and was
sitting on a log, resting and taking bite,
when saw coon come slyly out of the
bushes and wade out in the rifles of the
creek. almost held my breath, and |
sat as motionless as a statue, for here
was a chance that had coveted long.
"The coon waded cautiously out to the
middle of the stream and began its fishing
right away. The crawfish lives under
the stones in the waters they inhabit.
BY the way the coon thrust its paws
Gown into the water could see that it
was feeling for a stone. Finding one, IT
pushed one paw under it on one side and
the other paw under the other side.
at was comical sight to see that
coon's fishing. The coon kept its head
high in the air, moving it up and down
and to and fro, the eyes evidently gazing
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