It is fascinating how many wild critters live side by side with humans.

Sometimes to their peril and other times, their salvation.

Yesterday a happy ending story came my way from Baltimore.

A baby raccoon was rescued from a down spout, 4 feet below the ground.

After being trapped for nearly 24 hours in the elbow of a cast iron pipe,

and over 7 hours of rescue attempts and everyone about to give up,

the little thing finally grabbed the hook on the end of the pole

that was being presented to him, for perhaps the last time,

and was hoisted to safety.

We are intrinsically connected to everything on the planet.

There are those of us who will stop whatever we are doing to do right by distressed creatures,

even if it takes all day.

And there are those others whose very lives embody that connection on a daily basis.

Hats off to all those who take the time to nurture life's pals,

you exemplify the best in us.

Lots of people helped the little raccoon – Ann first heard the cry for help and discovered where he was, then Jerry and Susan and Darryl got involved and called in others, like John from Critter Control who is holding "Rocky" and who delivered him into the hands of the Phoenix Center for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife and Kathy Woods, who will nurture him back to robust health and then introduce him back into the wild. The photo is Ann's. Thanks to all!