North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[JoanRRosenberg@aol.com]

I have maybe 10 raccoons that live in the neighbor's woodpile.  None of them 
mess with my fruit trees.  I lose a few peaches once in a while, not a big 
deal.  I do put out cat food for them in the winter, though.  Wild life is 
part of the natural heritage.  They must be doing something right because I 
have very few pests anymore.  I still have to watch for earwigs.  
Indiscriminate "varmint hunting" generally does more harm than good. At my 
place the squirrels do far more damage.  The raccoons are actually better 
than cats for keeping squirrels in check. When the ecosystem is in balance, 
everyone is happy. Including me.  No, I am not a member of PETA nor do I 
endorse them, but I do believe that ecosystems need balance.  That includes 
my fruit trees, bees, bugs, and animals.