In March 2009, while photographing wildlife at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I experienced a remarkable interaction with a local raccoon that I’ll never forget.
I had parked at the Goss area when I spotted a raccoon emerging from the treeline. Eager to capture some images, I stepped out of my pickup truck. To my surprise, the curious creature approached me directly, seemingly intent on showing me an injury on its paw. After displaying the wound—which appeared to be just a minor raw spot—the bold raccoon even sniffed around my boots.
What struck me was how the injury didn’t seem to hinder the animal. After our brief encounter, it wandered to the roadside and began foraging in the water, using its injured paw with apparent ease.
When I shared this experience online, someone suggested the raccoon might have been a rehabilitated animal, accustomed to human interaction. While an interesting theory, this explanation seems unlikely given the refuge’s focus on migratory birds rather than raccoon rehabilitation.
Further research revealed that rehabilitated raccoons in Oklahoma are typically released near their original discovery locations. Suitable release sites generally include:
- Dedicated wildlife rehabilitation centers with appropriate raccoon habitat
- State wildlife management areas offering necessary resources
- Protected lands that provide food, water, shelter, and minimal competition
To solve this mystery conclusively, I plan to contact the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge directly.
Photography Notes
I captured these images handheld using my Canon EOS 40D paired with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens. The long focal length actually prevented me from photographing our closest moment when the raccoon investigated my boots—it was simply too near for the lens to focus.
For the primary image, I used:
- AV Mode
- Aperture: f/4.5
- ISO: 400
- Shutter speed: 1/800 sec
- No exposure compensation (0 EV)
- Focal length: 500mm