As a wildlife photographer, some of my favorite moments are when I get to observe animals going about their daily lives in nature. During a recent trip to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I was lucky enough to capture a special scene with a raccoon family.
Raccoons With Four Little Ones
I had driven to the Moody boat ramp and was heading back to the 4-corner intersection when I noticed some movement on the side of the road. I quickly pulled over and grabbed my camera – a mother raccoon was walking along with four tiny kits ambling after her!
Raccoons typically give birth to litters of 3-5 babies in the early summer, and at this age the kits are still very dependent on their mother. They were absolutely adorable as they stumbled after her on their little legs. I was able to get several shots of the quintet before they disappeared into the roadside brush.
Getting the chance to see wildlife families in their natural habitat is always a special experience for me. I feel grateful to have captured this raccoon mother teaching her kits the skills they’ll need to survive on their own one day. Moments like this remind me of the true beauty of nature.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon EF 800 mm f/11
Technical:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
- Date and Time Taken: July 22, 2021 (7:46 A.M.)
- Program: Manual
- Aperture: f11 (Fixed)
- Shutter speed: 1/1600
- ISO: 6400 (Auto)
- Exposure Compensation: 0
- Focal Length: 800 mm
