The Neighbours

Young Raccoon, under the boardwalk, Tylee Marsh

Under the Boardwalk - Tylee Marsh

A young raccoon, startled mid-exploration, freezes for a heartbeat — wide eyes locking onto the viewer through a frame of vivid green maple leaves. Perched on the edge of a wooden beam, the moment teeters between curiosity and caution.

Seconds later, it disappears beneath the boardwalk, slipping into the shadows with the practiced grace of a wild creature accustomed to sudden exits. This image captures that brief, electric pause before the vanishing act — a glimpse into the secretive rhythms of nature at the margins of our constructed world.

Photographed in Rosemère, Quebec, this encounter reminds us of how close the wilderness truly is — and how easily it slips from view.