Last night we had a raccoon show up at our door step. Literally at our front door, laying on our door mat. We discovered him only because we had a food delivery driver bringing food to us. When we first found him he was curled up and looked like he was sleeping on our mat.
As the evening progressed on, I found him curled up in some dried leaves just next to the front door near some mulch. From an outward glance he looked like he was healthy enough but his movements seem a bit labored. All evening I felt very stressed out. My shoulders ached, my hear rate was elevated, and I couldn't fall asleep. Perhaps this was in part just because of my stress and worry of having a wild animal literally on my doorstep, but I've also always felt I've had a bit of an empathic connection with animals. Perhaps I was feeling some of his pain and discomfort?
This morning when I woke up to go check the front door, I work up groggy, tired, and with a sense of dread. I think I knew what I was going to find, but silently in my mind wanted to tell myself there would be nothing there. Unfortunately, I found the raccoon still on our door mat by the front door. I believe he passed away in the night, although I am not 100% certain he is gone. I don't want to get too close at this point and I have a wildlife control company coming later this morning. The raccoon though appears to be unresponsive and as far as I can tell not breathing.
Thankfully he looks like he is at peace though and I am honored that's he found our home for his last moments. I hope that he at least had a dry and comfortable passing under the eve of our front door and that perhaps our home is in some way a welcoming place for spirits.
I think I would like to hold some sort of passing ritual this evening.