“I wasn’t sure what – if anything- I should do”

“Dear PoPville,

I live in Mount Vernon/Shaw area with a fair amount of trees and backyards (and some vacant lots). I’d been told we have some furry neighbors when I first moved in two years ago and have since seen the neighborhood alley cats and an opossum (from afar in my backyard late at night).

A couple of yard ago when newly here a few items were taken from my elevated back porch (I had dog treats in the bag that went missing) and was told it was likely raccoons.

Cut to this week when I went out to my porch and my patio furniture pillows were all over the place and my dog went crazy sniffing over some fur on them. Tonight I went on my deck to look at the sunset I was out there and finally met my neighbors.

There was two juvenile (I think) raccoons in the tree next to me. It wasn’t dark yet and they looked young/didn’t seem to be scared of me or my (barking) dog so I wasn’t sure what – if anything- I should do. I’ve googled and it seems like they should be hibernating but they also didn’t seem to be aggressive (or rabid).

Before knocking on my neighbor’s door (the tree they are in is in his yard) or calling animal control I wanted to see if others have had similar experiences and have any advice!”