Raccoon Invasion

Last night (wed) was hot so we kept the cat door open. Normally we coax the cats in and lock them up. But we thought we'd give them some freedom.

This morning (thurs), i stumbled down the stairs at 6:30 to feed our two kitties. Oddly, i heard a cat eating cat food IN the garage. Woody was near me, and I thought, how did Tinker get in the garage? So, sleepily, I swung the door open. A bandit's eyes peered back at me around the door, and then another one peeked out as well. Two teenage racoons munching on our catfood bag. They were so innocent and tame looking, I felt like picking them up. Then I remembered the hissing terror that had invaded many years ago back in palo alto. So I opened up the door, causing them to run, and opened up the garage door.
Instead of running out into the dawn daylight, they decided to climb the "nearest tree" which was my bikes in the corner of the garage. So comical; they were climbing on the wheel, which was spinning, giving them a sort of hamster-effect. Finally both got to "the top", balancing on handlebars, looking innocent. I left the door open and went back to the office to check my email and the like.

30 mins later. They are still there. I can't dilly-dally-need to be at work before 9.
Talked to my wife Nanc-who was too ascared to look at them--"they'll leave, just give them time".
10 mins later, they are still frozen on the bikes. So I grabbed a broom and nudged one off. Little bugger tried to get away but I coaxed him straight out to freedom. Phew-that was easy I thought.
Next one-maybe I got sloppy-but instead of running out through the door, he ran back toward me and to the opposite corner of the garage, behind the 'fridge and paint cans. I had to move everything out, away from the walls to get to him, coax him along. Bam... ran back along the wall behind the immovable tool chest! Finally, Nanc came down and "supervised" as I stuck the vacuum cleaner behind him to scare the raccoon-poop out of him, and he finally scurried out to freedom.

What a morning! Talk about a "mutual of omaha" moment right in the 'burbs!