I spotted three raccoons in a tree while driving through Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. Finding all three together made me stop for a closer look. I quickly pulled over and prepared my camera.
A Winter Morning With Raccoons in a Tree
I photographed the raccoons on February 23, 2023, at about 9:45 a.m. They were near the auto tour road at the refuge in Oklahoma.
The tree stood just before the four-way intersection, on the south side of the road. All three raccoons had climbed above the ground and settled among the branches.
Raccoons are skilled climbers. Trees can provide them with places to rest and escape trouble on the ground. Several raccoons may also gather in the same tree during colder months.
I could not tell why these three had chosen this particular spot. However, seeing the entire trio together gave me an unusual photo opportunity.
Photographing the Trio From My Pickup
I parked along the road when I saw the raccoons. My beanbag was draped over the open window of my pickup. This gave me a steady platform without leaving the vehicle.
I used my Canon EOS R7 with the Canon RF 100-500mm lens. A focal length of 254mm allowed me to include all three raccoons in the frame.
Camera and settings:
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f/10
- Shutter speed: 1/2000 second
- ISO: 2000, Auto
- Focal length: 254mm
A Wildlife Moment I Almost Recorded
After taking the photograph, I noticed one raccoon pestering the other two. I tried to switch my camera into video mode.
Unfortunately, I had recently bought a new microphone, and it was not attached. By the time I tried to correct that problem, the raccoons had moved apart. The chance to record their interaction was gone.
That missed opportunity taught me to keep my video equipment ready. Wildlife rarely waits while I sort through my gear.
This encounter also reminded me of another quiet observation, Snoozing Raccoon on a Tree Knot. Each sighting shows a different way raccoons use trees for rest and safety.