They are such brilliant little beasties

Raccoons on the Rampage the sign said at the trail head. We laughed. With my mother, we backpacked three miles to the Pacific Ocean, WA, camping in tents.

In the middle of the night, my husband Terry and I were awakened by the sound of animals fighting and scrabbling. Poked our heads out of the tent.

Raccoons were perched on our suspended food bag, tearing it apart. On the ground, raccoons fought over food. More raccoons were lined up on the branch and rope.

We hastily pulled on hiking boots. Wearing T-shirts and underpants, Terry and I ran to the beach, collecting baseball-sized rocks. While Terry threw rocks at the raccoons - he was a Little League pitcher- I ran back-and-forth collecting ammunition.

BAM! "GOT HIM!" my mother heard in her tent. "Aww, the kids are playing with the raccoons," Mom thought.

The raccoons destroyed our food. Defeated, we cleaned up the mess and hiked out for breakfast.

Raccoon Ninjas, ATTACK! Coming to a theater near you soon.

That musta been one powerful wind!

None of them are big enough for coon skin caps yet.

Adorably cute and incredibly vicious little trouble makers.

Where are they going?

Shoot those fucks! They destroy everything!