South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop - Raccoon Rescue

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral Trail > Winding Snake > Burkett Park   3.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area  3.8 miles

Temps started at 31, ended at 44.  Overcast, light 0-5mph SW breeze.

A cold overcast day for a hike but as the Norwegians say "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."  My clothing was good and kept me warm and secure as I hiked.  A few groups of deer who had escaped last week's hunt were running about and a few birds were also spotted (photo attached).

Trails were fine and as usual, I found trash which I went to deposit into a dumpster at the Isabel Harte Day Use Area.  When I opend the dumpster, I found it was empty except for one fairly large, frightened raccoon huddled in a corner of the cold dumpster.  After retrieveing a large broken mesquite branch, I attempted to prod the raccoon to climb out but he was too scared so I left the branch securly propped in the corner near him and continued my hike.

We are preparing for severe weather in a few days and I worried about the raccoon being so frightened that he wouldn't leave the safely of the dumpster.  I decided to change my hike route and check on him.  If he was still in the dumpster, I'd alert park personnel to see if they could resolve the matter.  When I returned to the dumpster, about an hour later, it was empty - the raccoon had used the branch to escape and return to the wild.  A happy ending!

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.