We’ve had a pesky raccoon in our neighborhood for several months this year. First, he chewed holes in our plastic garbage cans to get at our trashy leftovers. Then when we bought a metal garbage can to deter him, he just started pulling the lid off and tossing it.

That’s actually how we learned it was a coon. I heard the metal hitting the driveway and ran to the door to catch the destructive critter in the act. When I turned on the porch light, he bolted and I chased him across the street for good measure.

After hearing this Fox News story yesterday about a pack of marauding raccoons attacking a Florida grandmother, I won’t be doing that again.

Parting thought for the day: The raccoon is known as “bear’s little brother” because the two creatures are distantly related, so resist the urge to make a pet of either creature.

Raccoons may look adorable with their masked faces and striped tails, but they are rodents with attitude — and sharp teeth and claws to boot. If you want to have one in your life, think like enlightened redneck Daniel Boone and get a coonskin cap.