Home Invasion!

Yep, it happened again. I woke up at 3:45 AM to some rumbling outside the bedroom window. Just as I looked out, I saw a furry creature running across the street toward our house, he was moving quickly. I tried to go back to sleep, it’s not uncommon for raccoons, opossums, skunks, squirrels, and other animals to hang out in our yard in the early hours.

A short time later, there was another loud rumbling but I couldn’t tell where it came from, so I got up to look. As soon as I entered the dining room, several large furry creatures went scurrying around, it was dark, I think there were three or four, and they had torn apart the brand new bag of cat food which was everywhere! It didn’t take long for them to find the open back door from which they entered and they left.

I went to check on my cat, Shady Grove, she usually sleeps in my art studio. She came running out, all puffed up twice her size and terrified!

Sure enough, one of the raccoons had detoured into the studio and was frantically trying to get out through the closed window. When a terrified raccoon is trying to escape, they tend to climb up, so he climbed 9 feet up my art filled shelves and perched, hissing at me and showing his teeth!

This is not my first encounter with a wild animal, I know better and decided to just let him calm down and figure it out on his own, so I turned out the lights, went into the other room, and waited.

Meanwhile, his family was outside waiting for him, and at one point they tried to come back into the house! It was about 30 minutes before I heard all the crashing of boxed art supplies and other stuff falling to the ground, but that meant he was down and I just caught a glimpse of his striped tail as he ran out the door!

Needless to say, Shady is still tramatized and won’t go back in the studio, I have a big mess to clean, and yes, we will be keeping the back door shut again at night! 😉

They really are quite adorable when they are not hissing!

60 responses to “Home Invasion!”

  1. Ka Malana - Fiestaestrellas.com Avatar

    Wow! I wonder what new energy they brought into your studio! You seemed to have handled it all rather well! 😃😮

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      It’s part of the territory when you live near a canyon! Yes, I invite all the wildlife energy to my home. They all inspire me, in fact, we had a hummingbird in the house a couple of weeks ago! That was another adventure, but I think all connections are signs from the universe, and beyond! 😇

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Phil Avatar

    That’s quite an experience, an unexpected encounter in the wee hours of the night! 🦝 I hope that Shady is back to normal, soon, and that the raccoons didn’t do too much damage, especially to your artworks. 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Thanks, Phil! I was shocked that they didn’t do more damage, it could have been WAY worse! Shady will finally come back to the studio but only when I’m with her! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Timothy Price Avatar
    Timothy Price

    Those little rascals are quite destructive.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Right? You know all about the rascals, Tim!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Timothy Price Avatar
        Timothy Price

        I have lots of experience with raccoons.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEKK! (((((hugs))))) for you for Shady, too! And, what Phil said, I hope the damage was minimal & that your kitty’s over the shock soon. 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      I keep finding coon prints all over the place! 😂 🐾

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Creascreation Avatar

    They are very cute! I am also very scared of them 😂 thanks for sharing the shocking event!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Resa Avatar

    They are a nuisance, but oh so cute!
    They can also have rabies. If you see one in the daylight….run!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Good advice, thanks Resa! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  7. lifelessons Avatar

    I’ve had a few adventures with wild raccoons in the house, but my favorite stories are about me pet raccoon Zippy whom I had for a number of years growing up.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Yep, I remember reading your stories about Zippy! I always dreamed of having a pet raccoon as a kid, we had a coon family that visited regularly at my family’s mountain cabin, but they mostly stayed outside! Thank you for encouraging me to share the experience, Judy! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  8. lifelessons Avatar

    So glad you showed your photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. K.Hartless Avatar

    Oh my gosh. I thought this was a fictional story and then I saw your photos. I am such a wimp. I would be terrified.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      It was a crazy way to wake up, it could be woven into a crazier fictional tale, hint, hint! 😉

      Like

  10. Michele Lee Avatar

    Oh my gosh! What an ordeal. For all of you. Good of you to stay calm and let the wild animal figure it out. Good luck cleaning up the mess. 😞

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Thanks, Michele, it could have been way worse! I mostly have it all cleaned up, but I keep finding new coon prints on everything that was on my desk/work space! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Michele Lee Avatar

        Haha You seem to have a good attitude about all of it!

        Like

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Lol! 😂 Just a day in the life in a big city! 🤔

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Graham Stephen Avatar

    Wowzers! 🦝🦝🦝

    ▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪
    ▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      I kind of take it as a compliment that I have so many encounters with wildlife! ☺

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Graham Stephen Avatar

        you must have a special connection…

        Liked by 1 person

  12. muz4now Avatar

    Yikes! We live in the country, so I know just what you mean. Glad you’re safe even though Shady Grove is a bit traumatized.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Thanks, Stan, I grew up in the sticks so I’ve had some experience with wildlife, but it is kind of odd to find a family of raccoons in your house when you live in a big city! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. muz4now Avatar

        Yes, quite odd. though they are just very big rodents. 😳

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Crafts Inspire Me Avatar

    Wow! It’s hard to stay mad at such an adorable little face. Hope Shady Grove has recovered from the surprise encounter. You handled it beautifully and have pictures too. Maybe one of those little troublemakers will influence your next painting. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Troublemakers are my favorite sources of inspiration! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  14. hitandrun1964 Avatar

    Happy your cat was okay and hopefully, it won’t happen again. You left your backdoor open? You must live in a really safe and warm place.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Shhhhhhh!!!! 😉 We used to leave it open so Shady can enjoy our (usually) safe backyard at night, and San Diego rarely drops below 50 degrees! ☺

      Like

  15. Michelle Avatar

    Oh no!! I would’ve been as terrified as Shady Grove! (I love your cat’s name btw!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Thanks, Michelle! We have all recovered and the door is shut at night now! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Bird Avatar

    I am sorry, they probably made a huge mess, hope it didn’t take you to long to clean up. I can’t help it though; Aaaawwwwww so CUTE!!! We don’t have them here, only in zoo.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Oh yes, they are absolutely adorable! And they are really smart, so I knew if I just stepped back and let him calm down, he would find his way back to his family!

      Like

  17. suzannesmom Avatar
    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Raccoons are so cute! Not so much when they are above you and hissing, but besides that, really cute! 😂

      Like

  18. Matt Avatar

    Oh man, poor Shady 🤗🙀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      It wasn’t her first time either, but we are all recovered now! I wonder what story the raccoon went to tell his family about what happened? 😂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. memadtwo Avatar

    That is not something I would want to see in my house! (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      It was just one of many strange wildlife encounters, it’s always an adventure around here in the city! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. memadtwo Avatar

        There are plenty of raccoons outside here, but (mostly) only the mice get in.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

          Funny how that works, my cat takes care of the mice! 😉

          Liked by 1 person

          1. memadtwo Avatar

            A good mouser is a gift!

            Liked by 1 person

  20. Violet's Vegan Comics Avatar

    How lovely that they go about as a family! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Yes! I believe it’s the same family that has visited periodically over the last 8 years, with some new members and some old, they always remember that we have a cat and therefore cat food! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Violet's Vegan Comics Avatar

        Oh how adorable!! 😀 It’s wonderful that you are so close to nature. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Giadreams (themoviemylife.com) Avatar

    That was quite the gripping story, Tiffany. 😀 One that I enjoyed reading. Still, sorry for all the mess and inconvenience. I do agree that Raccoons can be cute, but they are cutest from a very safe distance. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      Thanks for reading Gia! They tried coming back early this morning, they were trying to break the door down, which is now locked at night! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Giadreams (themoviemylife.com) Avatar

        Sounds like they really are a smart bunch. They just need to go be smart somewhere else! 😁

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Kirt D Tisdale Avatar

    Unbelievable…that would have freaked me out. You handled it well!!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. davidjrogersftw Avatar

    Tiffany, I have a history with racoons and skunks. Been chased by both.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. tiffanyarpdaleo Avatar

      😂It’s no joke, wild animals are not to be taken for granted! I hope you didn’t get caught!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. davidjrogersftw Avatar

        I didn’t get caught. I outran them.

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Candia Avatar

    Hope you have no more visitors!

    Liked by 1 person

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