Some mornings on the refuge feel like a highlight reel. This one ended with a quiet little surprise, a young raccoon asleep in plain sight.
The moment I spotted the snoozing raccoon
On February 17, 2023, I was driving the auto tour road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. After a strong morning of wildlife photography, I noticed a young raccoon curled up on a knot in a nearby tree.
It looked completely relaxed. The light was soft and warm, and the whole scene felt calm.
I’ve also photographed a similarly relaxed raccoon at Sequoyah, in this post about a lounging raccoon in Oklahoma.
Wildlife Notes
Raccoons usually rest during the day, often tucked into dens, hollows, or thick cover. That is why this daytime nap stood out to me. This one picked an exposed spot on a tree knot, and it still seemed to feel safe.
I stayed in my truck and kept things quiet. The raccoon never changed position, and I was able to make a few frames without pushing my luck.
Photography Notes
I pulled over and used my usual setup for roadside encounters. I rested my camera and lens on a bean bag over the open window. That gave me solid support and let me work fast.
Gear used
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Settings
- Manual exposure
- 500mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec, ISO 800 (Auto)
- 11:38 A.M.
That shutter speed helped protect detail in the fur, even if the raccoon shifted a little in its sleep. f/8 gave me enough depth of field for the face and the tree texture.
Closing
It was a simple scene, but I still think about it. Encounters like this are a big reason I keep coming back to Sequoyah.