It was a quiet Fall afternoon when I spotted a young raccoon below the ledge, getting a drink of water. He obviously didn't want to get his paws wet - perched daintily on a flat rock, all 4 feet planted dead-centre. Out of "nowhere" as if by magic, Mama and Papa Swan appeared, their mission definitely not a friendly "hello" as they rapidly homed in on our furry drinker. By now a half-dozen people stood directly above the ledge, watching. What to do?!

For a few panicky moments our little raccoon contemplated the white furies gliding up to his rock with "hissssssssss" and quickly decided that braving the circle of people above his rock was the lesser of two evils. He flashed by our feet, taking refuge in the cedar-grove behind. Only a little face was visible from within the bushes where he remained while Mama and Papa waited by the rock, hoping! (Raccoons are swans' natural enemies, so it's very seldom the tables are turned)