Quick story: I was out at Stanley Park photographing some fall colors and happened across a pair of raccoons checking out a trash bin looking for food. A young lady about 25-30 years old and her cycling partner stopped at this scene just after me. When the first raccoon went into the trash bin and disappeared I heard her say to her cycling partner; “I will get a stick and poke him out of there”. I said to both of them why would you do that? She said so that I can get a better look. I said no you will not do that. She said why not?! I said for one thing it is dangerous, they can and do bite, he will be out again in less than a minute and for another its just a stupid idea. They both cycled away without another word. Without poking any animals with a stick.
If you want to photograph wildlife do it from a respectful distance where you do not interfere with the animals. That is what zoom lenses are for.
As you can see by the photos the pair of raccoons did find something they found of interest.
Creativescans 