What to do, what to do...

My dilemma.

I know that you're not supposed to feed wild animals. But is that kind to anyone? I don't know why this is always a dilemma in the north of Ontario...

The temptation now is a rather scruffy female raccoon - with a white patch on her back - probably from illness - and her three babies. I'd rather not know about them.

They live somewhere in the woods around our house. We had a bird feeder outside the kitchen window, and the mother took charge of that, visited it a few days with her babies, and then finally destroyed it, probably took it away with her, and we can't find it - only bits and pieces of it. Right now, she's back this morning, picking up the seeds.

It stormed rather heavily overnight, so her coat is very wet. The babies are not with her this morning. I saw her earlier when I looked out our living room window down the path to the lake, and there - looking up at me - were two eyes. I didn't see her at first - only her eyes. I didn't realize she was on her way up to the concrete patio outside the kitchen.

She's a bit disturbing because, if I were to open the kitchen door, she'd come straight in. She's not afraid at all.

And I just don't like the idea of them being out in the wet and cold and struggling for survival. I would rather not know...