Thread:Hilo2/@comment-29082502-20180412010857/@comment-29082502-20180413114537

Sorry, my brain wasn't working yesterday... I have a strange sense of humor and was trying to be purposely sarcastic. I picked those things, which I now understand could be categorized as sex and politics, to be sarcastic. Did not mean to ruffle anyone's feathers and I hereby whole heartedly apologize if that is the case. I will try to be more mindful of the rules. As for raccoons, I realize they can carry rabies, like most mammals, and have the perspective that wild animals should NEVER be treated as pets. This particular raccoon was confiscated by the powers that be and lived with the rehabber, as it was determined that he was imprinted by humans and would not do well in the wild. I taught environmental education classes to young children at a Natural History Museum and the rehabber and I often worked together, and 'borrowing' the coon for a class was a special treat for me, as I got to entertain him for 24 hours. Not so easy to do, I discovered quickly. Like having 35 four year olds at once, to say the least. Very demanding creature, extremely intelligent, and quite capable of getting into mischief, all on his own. But it doesn't stop me from liking raccoons-just in their own environment and not mine. Years later I went back to do graduate work in ornithology, with birds of prey as my focus. Just so you don't think i am one of those folks who dresses up wild animals in little dresses and carries them around in a purse! I have much more respect than that for nature. So, I apologise if I offended you in any of these circumstances and will try to obey the rules in the future. You can unfriend me if you wish, but I would rather that you accept this apology, please. No harm intended!