Absolutely, it is sad that these smallness are not being followed through. It makes a big impact on another person, without you even realizing it.

Hahaha!.... "jffinley2" ...the variation on those two statements,(&-"CrowWolf")......that we use (very jokingly!) here in New Zealand is:- Hello!.."What can I do-you for?"...... :) .... Maybe, with our Colonial origins - like the Canadians, we have a fairly 'broad' sense of humour? -- Which is harmless enough, providing you've assessed your 'listener'//'victim' well,.....and at times, lavishly assure them of the joke...and 'no-harm intended'!! ---- But THAT's the difficult part!! -- and sometimes, a clever wee 'joke' is wiser kept to oneself.... just in-case the 'recipient' may be having an 'extra hard day'..... or is one who may be rather habitually going about Life with their 'funny-bone'-missing!! -- oooops! :) :) ..............
Cheers!
Jen.
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lol, well I guess that is our job to spread WA to the world, so that people have time to find those missing funny bones.....

Since we very obviously have an enthusiastic Canadian present today.... and no doubt many, many others!! -- :) :) - Hi ALL, in WA!! --- Would anyone mind answering a rather unusual question that I have, about your prolific 'Wild-Life'??? ---
Obviously, Raccoons are rampant, (or variously evident!?) throughout (parts-of?) Canada? ..... I'm surmising also, that Raccoons may be in large tracts in more Northern regions of the neighboring USA, too?? -----
Anyway, - get to the point!- We don't have any critters, except a few Possums, down here in NZ! --- So when my son, Brendan...
was standing outside on his backyard grass, and chatting to me on the phone...(by then, in the near-pitch-dark!)... He suddenly felt these strong paws!!!-grasping around his lower-leg!!!! . . . .

Well, he let-out a yell!! - and looked down, to see a furry animal, thinking it just had-to-be a Cat! - But NO! - the heavily-striped-face was coming at-him again!--- and 'clasped' his leg another 2.or.3 times, while staring intently up at him!!!! ....So, to get-away, Brendan leaped up onto the Trampoline! - But it pursued, and looked-like it was going to 'join-him' up there, too!!! --
So, without any 'Local-knowledge', nor any "Animal-behaviour" expert to 'consult' he then 'beat-a-retreat' inside his house!! ...

So my ignorant question for all those who may be shaking their heads by now, at the (maybe) alarmist responses of our poor ignorant New Zealander-(Kiwi)! -- er when you've finally picked yourself up off the floor, in your derision?? :) ......

My question is:- "WHAT, on earth was that persistent Raccoon trying to tell Brendan??? -- "You're another male Raccoon, and I'm here to fight, and scare you off!"..??? -(he/she sure succeeded!). .... OR:- Was it some variation of that? - Like.- -
"Hey! -Get OUT-of 'My'-Backyard!! --This is MY designated Feeding-time, and you're a possible 'challenge' to the supply!"-?
..... Or, what??? ... Does anyone have a pretty good knowledge of Raccooon-behaviour and habits?? - - Would it have run-up Brendan's body, like a Possum will do, on rare occasion?? -(They like the high vantage-point!). --- And there was once a young Family, in a Town nearby, who had a Pet-Possum,... and it used-to ride up atop the head of one child or the other, as they walked through their wee Village!! -- Quite the sight! :) :)

Would the Raccoon have possibly bitten Brendan, if he hadn't 'withdrawn' from the apparently-perceived "confrontation"??? -
We have since learned that Raccoons DO apparently carry the Rabies virus, at times!! -- Yeek! -- So maybe Brendan had a 'possible' narrow escape?? .....
He sure didn't get any 'sympathy', nor understanding from his Canadian wife... who reckoned it should have bit him!! -- Ouch! -
I count that as a rather too 'broad' sense of 'humour'!!! -- But I'm sure not all Canadians are endowed that way!! - hahaha! :) :))

So.... Any ideas? - suggestions?? -- on Brendan's 'Rapacious-Raccoon's' behavioural sequence!??? -
Thanks, and hope Y'all don't mind the rather unusual 'nature' of this Post!!? :{ -- :)
Cheers! --- Jen. (of NZ.). :)

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I haven't hear of anything like that unless it was someone pet or used to getting fed by someone. Usually they just run away or if scared, they will bite. But maybe that only the US raccoons, I can't speak for the Canadian ones.

Now in Ohio, we have a lot of those Canadian geese that we would like to send back North, but I think it might be too cold up their for the geese.