New Species? Tail-less coons.

tallyho8 · Jul 22, 2015

I caught two young coon in my chicken yard today. They appear to be about 6 weeks old and they were born tail-less.

I'm keeping my eyes out for the mother because I want to see if she is tail-less too. Anyone ever see a coon with no tail before?

And no, they weren't cut off. The rear is perfectly formed and they are too young to have had them cut off and healed perfectly already.

newbury · Jul 22, 2015

What's the pollution levels in your area?

tallyho8 · Jul 22, 2015

newbury said:
What's the pollution levels in your area?

Now that you mention it, I do live about 1 mile from the largest landfill in Louisiana. Hmmmmm!

MossRoad · Jul 22, 2015

Ya know... that whole legless frogs and pollution thing has been proven to be dragonfly nymphs eating the legs off tadpoles..
BBC - Earth News - Legless frogs mystery solved

So find what's eating your raccoon tails!

In all seriousness, there's some discussions about tailless raccoons out there on google. Interesting.

RobertBrown · Jul 22, 2015

What are you planning to do with those youngsters?
And no I have never seen a raccoon without a tail.

MossRoad · Jul 23, 2015

Looks good with no tail...

oosik · Jul 23, 2015

All the coons here have tails. Side note: be careful with handling the little critters. Remember - like many animals - coons can be carriers of rabies.

tallyho8 · Jul 23, 2015

I had a coon raid my tack room in my barn last night and eat all the cat food. I am sure it must be the mother of these two. I am going to set up my live trap tonight and also my game camera in hopes of finding out if she is tailless also.

I will report back tomorrow.

2LaneCruzer · Jul 23, 2015

MossRoad said:
Looks good with no tail...
View attachment 433984

I had the pleasure of meeting Fess Parker about 1955 at a local TV station. Buddy of mine and I had won a local talent contest so we got a spot on one of the local programs. I recall him being a big guy, very nice. Up close, I noticed a huge scar down his jawbone to his chin. Didn't show up on TV, but it person it was more than obvious. Years later, I did a bit of research on him and found out that the had been in a fender bender, and some guy tried to cut his head off; hence the huge scar.

MossRoad · Jul 23, 2015

2LaneCruzer said:
I had the pleasure of meeting Fess Parker about 1955 at a local TV station. Buddy of mine and I had won a local talent contest so we got a spot on one of the local programs. I recall him being a big guy, very nice. Up close, I noticed a huge scar down his jawbone to his chin. Didn't show up on TV, but it person it was more than obvious. Years later, I did a bit of research on him and found out that the had been in a fender bender, and some guy tried to cut his head off; hence the huge scar.

But what was the talent???