Mr. Rapscallion

On By ResaIn Kensington Market

Toronto is reputedly the Raccoon Capital of the world.

True, there is the issue of when they get into your attic, and set up housekeeping. They can chew wires and destroy structure. They can carry rabies and disease dangerous to humans.

Still, they are crazy cute (especially the young ones). Okay, they eat your garbage, but isn’t that better than land fill?

I found this little muffin head bandit in Kensington Market. He was trying to get across to another trash bin. There were a gathering of people watching. You’d think they never seen a wild urban animal before. City folk!

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I shot this on a different day. I love how the lighting brought out the blue.

Pics taken by Resa – May 23 & July 3 & September 10, 2023

Toronto, Canada

The Artist: (The Half Decent)

96 thoughts on “Mr. Rapscallion”

    1. If you’re short of raccoons were you live, we have more than enough here to share generously.
      Also, if you need any extra cat fur just let me know.🐱😉

      1. LOL, Resa! 😂 As long as the raccoons take off their shoes at security before flying from Toronto to the U.S. Those raccoons can bring the extra cat fur in carry-on bags.

    1. A large older raccoon can be scary. Their head stays the same, but the body just grows and grows. Also, the sound they make when mating is horrific.
      Someone should record that noise. It would work well in a horror film.
      Thanks, Merril!

  5. Hello Resa, as I’ve mentioned before I am lucky and live on the outskirts of town and there is a nature reserve nearby so I see a lot of wildlife venturing into the urban environment – Grey Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Owls and Bats…but none quite as cute as a Raccoon. Or this mural! I’m always reminded of “Rocket Raccoon” from Marvels’ Guardians of the Galaxy or as he was known in real life Oreo when I see one.

    1. Well, we have enough raccoons here in Toronto to supply the planet. Lol!
      Hmm, I seem to remember Rocket Raccoon.
      I’ll look him up!
      Thanks Tyeth!

      1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

        Spunk has had a few run ins with raccoons in the past. I’m keeping them separated these days. Although, the skunks can slip into the catio and skunk the Spunk.

  8. Terrific art and great photos, Resa. You are so right racoons are the cutest. I had one living in a guest room for a couple of months. Never knew he was there until he showed himself one night. Had to set up a chute system to get him out the front door. 🐂 🐂

  12. Now THAT is a sharp dressed racoon!

    I remember going for a run early one morning and coming back to find a family of raccoons passing me in the alleyway between my house and the neighbors. We looked at each other and then they kept on walking. Good thing too, I wouldn’t want to get into a tangle with them.

    1. Boy, am I behind on comments!
      Apologies, dahling!
      Yes, they can be scary, especially a mom with babies.
      As you know I walk in the alleys looking for art on garage doors and walls.
      I see all the urban wild life. Lots of rats, racoons, occasional skunk, mice, squirrels, birds (pigeons, sparrows and grackles) and the odd thing I don’t recognize.
      I look at myself like a Snow White, and urban alley Snow White.
      I sing to the animals.
      They sing to me?
      Well, we get along.
      MUAH!

    1. Lol! My mom used to call us kids rapscallions when we were kids being kids.
      It’s a fun find for sure!

      On a completely different note, do you know anything about whatever happened to Le Drake Noir? I saw you follow him too.
      He posted every day for over 12 years, now nada.

  14. The racoon art is great! On the other hand, in my experience, you can dress them up, but you can’t take them out… What happens when he decides to wash his hands in the mayor’s wife’s soup? That top hat won’t cut it. lol.
    I’ve seen raccoons, but if I saw that guy you photographed, I’d stop and stare too…. (yes, little ones are cuter, but I need to keep my dogs away!)

    1. LOL!
      Funny Trent!
      What happens when your dogs see a raccoon?

      Pardon for the late reply, but I’ve got a sick cat on my hands, and I’ve been going for tests. When it rains, it pours the mayor’s wife’s soup!

      1. Sorry about your cat 😦 Hope he/she is better soon.
        The dogs get real interested when raccoons are around. I grab the leash immediately if they are free. A couple of years ago some juvenile raccoons were around and the dogs got much closer than I would have wanted – no barking or growling or anything, but still do not want any interaction – one side or the other may have gotten hurt, and, though I doubt the baby raccoons had rabies, you always have to check if they touch each other… (we nabbed them before they touched)

        1. Well, he’s an old cat… 14.5 years. 😔
          The thing is now, to slow progression of the arthritis, and do things to ease pain.

          Raccoons in the daytime could have rabies.
          Best at any rate to keep our pets away.
          Our pets are like kids. I never had children, so I do tend to over dote on my babies!
          Thank you, Trent!

          1. Our kids were/are fur babies, not human ones. We have two young cats, though Tiberius has had health issue his entire life, and an old lady cat – the two young ones has made her act a lot younger! The two dogs are over 9, with Fiyero almost 10 – getting up there for dogs their size. Idina has bad arthritis and is often in pain. We’ve been force feeding her pain medication and stuff that is supposed to help with her joints. It is amazing how much better she looks! She doesn’t act like a puppy like Fiyero does, but she is back to doing walks and a little play.

            1. Wonderful!
              They do require an amount of taking care of.
              The joy is worth all the effort.
              I like the freedom I’ve had to pursue career, time to spend being creative and the money I haven’t had to spend. Selfish?
              I think pragmatic, for me anyway.
              Ahh, the guys have started jamming. There’s nothing like live music.
              Catch ya soon!

  17. That is a lovely image. They really are cute (when they are small) and the live one you captured is sweet, too.
    One morning, I opened my patio door and over in the corner was a big dude. He looked at me and only when I said: Are you seriously contemplating coming here? did he turn around!
    My aunt had a family living in her attic. She wasn’t even allowed to have them removed until the babies were big enough!

    1. They are adorable.
      Was it your aunts desire to wait, or a rule of removal?

      Yes, the full adults are a bit scary.
      One day a raccoon got in the house. We didn’t know it. The cats were gong weird at the litter house, you know a covered litter box. The entry hole is cat size.

      So, I banged on the house, and a cute little head popped out. Then the sweetest little paws.
      Following that was this ginormous body that kept coming out, coming out, coming out. It was bigger than the litter house.

      People, brooms, cats screaming, general pandemonius running and chasing – basement, upstairs (3 flights).
      Finally out the door.
      That was fun! ⚡️💥

      1. They are.
        She had no choice – trust me she did not want these squatters!

        Oh my goodness! The cats must have been more than disconcerted.

        Oh man… Isn’t it amazing to see how such big beasties can get into such small places?

        I can only imagine!! Crazy! 🧚‍♀️🌟

  21. I adore him! He is super cute in his top hat and that pink highlight is brilliant!
    Wonderful find, dahling!
    Hera loves it too!
    No raccoon emoji!🤔
    ❤️💗✨👏⭐️😘🌷⭐️🧡😍🤗🐾😘😘😘😘
    ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

    1. He is super cute. He’s almost as cute as my cats.
      They do look into my eyes when I bump into one in the alley.
      No raccoon emoji? Figures.
      Hera!!!!!
      ❤️❤️❤️🐾🧽🧽🧽❤️❤️❤️🐾🧽🧽🧽❤️❤️❤️🐾🧽🧽🧽❤️❤️❤️🐾🧽🧽🧽❤️❤️❤️🐾🧽🧽🧽

      1. That look is piercing!
        Here’s Hera: ❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾❤️😘🐾😘❤️

    1. Lol! He should have a magic wand, or at least a snazzy cane.
      I barely realized the weekend went by. I have a sick cat, and he’s taking my time. And that’s okay, I love him! Be well Martha!

    1. Finally, an animal we have and you don’t! 🤭
      They are cute, but pesky.
      I think the pink trim is for the night lights. It’s a popular area for tourists and nightlife, so some of the art is lit at night.

  24. I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of raccoons, especially the little ones. So cute. And yet they can cause havoc. They like our bird food and our trash of course, but we don’t mind them really. Beautiful mural, Resa. As well as the real fellow.

    1. I agree, Diana! They are cute, and not worth worrying about, unless they get into the structure of your home, most worry some being the attic. We’re doomed to having urban wildlife here. I find raccoons keep the skunks and rats away.
      Squirrels seem above it all, and ours look really healthy.
      It’s an adorable mural.
      I’ve always thought street art, including hard core graffiti is a form of urban wild life.

    1. I guess we have tasty trash in Toronto! 😳
      I couldn’t resist him. Lol! I found 3 more raccoons today. They’re totally different. I’ll save them for the winter.

  26. The painting is wonderfully accurate. They are shifty little buggers, but they are adorable. We haven’t had them around for a number of years, but they were fun to watch. I think you did a great job describing them.

    1. Thanks, Dan! Re: my description.
      I see raccoons a lot. They’re living the life of Riley here in Toronto.
      Lol -shifty little buggers- They look you square in your eyes. Depending, they will break your heart, or scare the bejeziz outta ya!

    1. Hmm, are there plants that taste awful, but look good? OR is it a vegetable garden.
      I imagine it’s hard to get mad at a beautiful deer.xx

      1. It’s a flower garden in the front. The herbs and flowers in the back are safely fenced in (until a deer decides to jump over one day!). It’s taken a while but I’ve come to realize that lavendar is NOT a deer favorite and looks great!

  29. They’re crazy cute on murals for sure Resa but they are aggressive and cause havoc. Hunter chased a big one off the deck but not without a fight. Thank goodness we grabbed him up. Great murals. 👏💙

  31. So FUN!! Thank you for bringing some enchantment to my day:) I love all animals and this one is a cutie!! Here at the Southern Spanish coast we had some run ins with “Jabalis”, Wild boars who have started hanging out at the beaches here!! I still love all animals, though 🙂 Wishing you a wonderful day over there, hugs xox

    1. We share the love love of animals. In these modern times,when we have run ins with wild animals, we have to remember they were here first.
      Many cities and large towns are occupying their original natural habitat.
      We are the encroachers. No wonder they are mad.
      Love seeing you!
      I hope you figure out something flor blogging. A new blog? Anew idea and direction?
      Have a great weekend! xoxo

      1. We so do, and I am very grateful for that and for YOU!!! I totally share your opinion – the animals were here first! Exactly, we are the encroachers and their behaviour is a natural reaction to that greedy human behaviour!! Thank you for your lovely words and encouragement here, gorgeous- I am currently mostly focused on bringing in enough cash and the blog is second… but I DO long to revive it soon!! Thanks so much for supporting me, my friend. It means a LOT!!! Sending love and hugs from a beautiful day by the Mediterranean Sea xoxo

        1. Ahh, lucky you by the sea!
          Say hello to the animals there for me.!
          Yes…money, that necessary interference in our creative lives.
          Although fortunate enough to find a way into film with my talents, it was for the money.
          Now that I’m older, I am able to enjoy my time a bit more, but hard work is still always there.
          Did you ever see my website for work? It’s not a blog. https://resamcconaghy.com/ I do miss you out here. At least we are in touch!!! xoxoxoxoxox

          1. Hi lovely, my neighbourhood’s park hedgehog says hello back to you:) Thank you for the link, YES I have seen your super impressive website, I remember that you worked with OMG HELEN MIRREN as well!! Kudos Resa artista, I love what you have created in your life. Tanta belleza!! I miss you too lovely. I have had some relationship stress in my private life these years that also demanded lots of energy but am trying to recenter back more onto me and my creativity. Miss you, sending lots of AMORE! xoxox Have a fab weekend xoxo

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