Raccoon . Time

In the middle of Montreal, there is a smallish mountain - Mount Royal. There is an amazing amount that you can do up there: hiking, biking (if you're in, like, triathlon shape), there's a huge old cemetery, a bunch of parks, and then at one outlook, raccoons.

I think you're probably not supposed to feed them, but as they're tame as house pets, + hordes of people go up there with food, that doesn't seem to be a real steadfast rule.

B. and I went up with just a few leftover crusts of bread from lunch and passed out a few morsels. The raccoons sit on their hindquarters and ever so gently take the little pieces from your hand. They're not shy about being grabby either - they'll lean right on you in hopes of getting some more!!

Note: Apparently the city puts out food bait that's been laced with rabies vaccine, as I suspect that "Montreal: Home of Rabid Raccoons" isn't the motto they'd like to have for themselves.