Frozen Raccoon

As the crisp air of early spring began melting away the last vestiges of winter, I released the dogs to romp and explore the freshly thawed ground. I stepped out onto the back deck to take in the wonders of the backyard as it awakened from its frosty slumber. Sipping a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee, I caught sight of a strange sight. A raccoon was nonchalantly reclined against the wall of our pool. Its little arms stretched out along the ridge of the pool as if sitting on the sofa watching a football game.

I hustled back into the house to grab my phone; I didn't want to miss this perfect shot. Back on the deck I clicked various photos before beginning to suspect a problem. The dogs, tails wagging and noses quivering with excitement, were drawn to the peculiar scent. They barked and pawed at the fence around the pool, but the raccoon remained seated.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the raccoon, perhaps in search of an easy meal, had unwittingly ventured onto the pool cover that had not yet yielded to the spring sun. The poor little beast was frozen in a comical tableau, its butt trapped by the ice.

Ultimately, this surprising spectacle prompted a call to the local wildlife rescue. I explained the situation to the voice on the other end of the phone and earned a robust chuckle. The wildlife rehabilitator couldn't wrap her brain around this bizarre turn of events. She begged me to call her back once the issue was resolved.

In a scene that could have easily graced the pages of a whimsical children's book, two determined men arrived to rescue the hapless raccoon. Armed with nothing but a long, sturdy pole, the men formulated a clever plan. Leveraging the pole over the fence that separated them from the raccoon's icy predicament, they gently pried its butt from the ice. The raccoon, sensing the helping hand of its human rescuers, paused briefly during its departure, appearing to take stock of its fortunate escape.

The men and I cheered, not only for the successful mission but for the bond forged during the bizarre rescue. I made sure to call the wildlife rescuer to give her a detailed account of the unusual raccoon liberation. I also posted pictures of the unfortunate varmint on Facebook for all to enjoy.

Every year afterward, as winter rolls to an end, I can't resist sharing pictures on Facebook. The comments flood in: friends urge me to put out a "Frozen Raccoon" sign, and others humorously suggest I invite the raccoon to the next polar plunge. The story has become a local legend bringing laughter and community cheer and ensures that every year I'm reminded of that spring day when two heroes saved a mischievous raccoon and gave me a tale to share.