[Jeff Higgins]

That's what the '06 is for, HardDrive. I was actually with a buddy that shot one with his old Mauser, right off the balcony on his second story condo behind Spud's Fish and Chips in Juanita. Took all of 30 seconds for every cop in Juanita, Kirkland, and Bothell to make it to the parking lot. They never did see the racoon. We spent about five minutes talking to them from the balcony. "Wow, was that really a gunshot? Never heard one before..." Anyway, the thing had been killing cats in the condo complex; we found several ripped up carcasses over the course of a few months.

On a sad note, however, I saw what I think was one of our neighborhood racoons sprawled in the street this morning; obviously hit last night. I think they were a mating pair (that is, if they keep their mates - I honestly don't know much about them). Anyway, I have seen a pair in the wee hours of the morning for years. As far as I know, they never got aggressive with anyone. They kind of add a bit of spice to the old 'hood, never failing to bring a smile to my face as they waddled down the road in front of my Beetle. I sure hope it wasn't one of "ours"...