On 1/16/99, I had to post a very sad note to this page.  At that time, it was believed that all these raccoons had been trapped and then killed by someone  whose property abutted the same forest as Barry's land in Eureka California.  
The raccoons crime?  Simply wanting to live.   People who choose to live in and around a forest usually do so because they have a desire to be closer to nature and the myriad wildlife a forest offers.  But in Eureka, it was allegedly quite legal for the human residents who have staked out their homes from or abutting such a forest, to control what happens to any of the forest denizens who either trespass or are lured onto such property.  At that time, Barry was informed the City of Eureka's policy was that anyone could trap any wild animal they wanted to trap as long as it's on their property ...but that the animal must then be turned over to the Animal Control Officer to be killed.  

Over the course of the ensuing months Barry dedicated himself to bring about changes so that these deaths would not be in vain.

On 8/23/99, I received the following update from Barry:

     "Since I lost many of my furry friends to trappers last year, things are finally looking better.  The City of Eureka is no longer engaged in the trapping and killing of raccoons....nor do they promote it as a solution to raccoon problems.  While raccoons in our area are still subjected to random and senseless acts of violence, at least those in our little forest are more protected than they were last year.  My neighbors, too, are more educated and sensitive to the raccoon's plight.  For those of us who truly care about our raccoon friends, our most effective tool is knowledge.  I have found that when people get to know wild animals on a personal basis, they find it very hard to do anything that would jeopardize their safety.  Taking the time to educate people about raccoons has rewarded me tenfold.
      This year, we are being visited every night by no less that fifteen to twenty kits and their mothers...with a few adult males that tag along.  The raccoon population in our forest is on the mend and we are truly enjoying our new friends.  Attached are some photos of this year's visitors.  As you can see, the kits and their mothers are being well fed <g>. 
      While there will never be another Sandy, each raccoon and every kit that visits us is the result of efforts brought about because of Sandy.  And, we still have her picture in our living room as a tribute to a truly sweet and loving wild raccoon."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~ Barry