Story by Jean Bergere, Photography by Carrie Long
This little story is especially for Owen Lee. He is the very young grandson of my dear friend, Dennis Adair, who first introduce Jasper to Owen. And as it has been said, “This is the rest of the story.”
Owen is a bright little boy that loves all animals, just like his grandfather, “Gamp”. Every day Gamp would visit Owen to tell him wonderful true adventures of a time when Gamp was training hawks to fly and hunt.
Owen loved to hear Gamp tell him of the many great birds that Gamp had trained. And they were wonderful, funny and exciting stories but there was something missing. Owen could not imagine holding and cuddling a big hawk.
Then one day Gamp’s friend sent him a funny picture of a silly raccoon that was playing with a fawn named Hope. That was the day Gamp introduce Owen to Jasper.
It all began one rainy, cold day in the fall of 2021. A very nice woman was out just for a quick run to her mailbox. Accidentally she kicked something in a puddle. When she looked down there was a baby animal of some kind. She didn’t know what it was, but it was alive, wet, cold and crying. Being a caring person she picked it up and took it in the house. She didn’t know what she had or how to take care of it. Time to find a rehabilitator that specialized in tiny mammals.
The phone rang and Mrs. L. answered. Someone had found a baby mammal and needed a rehabilitator to take it in. Like so many rehabbers, Mrs. L. said yes, not knowing what it was but it didn’t matter. It was a baby wild animal. Shortly Mrs. L. was handed a tiny bundle she immediately recognized as a baby raccoon. Time to warm it up and fix a bottle. This little guy had survived terrible conditions but now he was in the care of a knowledgeable rehabber and his future was safe.
His name is Jasper and he is a raccoon that doesn’t know what he is. He lives in the house, sleep, in a hammock and gets all the food he wants. And he wants lots of food!! He grew and grew!
It took a lot of energy to grow. So he slept at night and took naps during the day
As he grew he became full of mischief. Look at that kitchen!! Can you even imagine how tempting it is for a little raccoon.
And Jasper Grew, and Grew!!!
Jasper loves to play in water! HA HA Any Water!!
Or examine this colorful things and people in the house!!!
It was time to live outside like a raccoon should. But that was not in Jasper’s plans! He likes living in the house with the rest of the humans. As far as Jasper knew he was a human too! Right?
That didn’t work, at first. Eventually Jasper learned how to open the door and go in the house.
But all his friends, Tripp the dog and Hope, the doe, were outside so it wasn’t so bad after all. Jasper will never know what it is to be a wild raccoon but he does know what it is the live with humans and other wonderful friends. Owen you are one of his very special human friends.
