Raccoons are one of the most common wild animal found in North America, with their habitats ranging from forests to cities. They are vital to the ecosystems in many ways! They're nature's pest control, eating anything from insects to snakes. They also help us by cleaning up roadkill.
Warmer weather means more time spent outside at the park or on the lake, but it's also the time of year when our forest friends have babies, increasing your chance of encountering them, especially after a strong storm or when trees have been knocked or cut down. If you happen to stumble across a raccoon on a day out, don't panic!
If you find an orphaned raccoon baby - or kit - you should first ensure that it is not injured. If the kit is not injured, you should very carefully place it in a nearby area away from kids and pets, out of the weather. For your safety and the raccoons, use thick gloves such as welding gloves or a thick towel. Raccoons can carry rabies or canine distemper, both transmittable to you and your pets. Moving the kit will not discourage the mom from getting her baby.
If the raccoon kit has not moved for 24 hours, it is time to intervene. Grab a box with a lid, line it with an old t-shirt or a small fleece blanket, and provide warmth by either placing the box halfway on a heating pad or placing a hot water bottle in a sock. Place the raccoon kit(s) in a warm, dark, quiet area away from people and other animals, and keep handling to a minimum. Once the animal is safe and secure, text us: A Wild Life Animal Rehabilitation at 903-636-3193. From there we can instruct you on the next steps.
***IMPORTANT*** Do NOT try to feed them or offer hydration without first speaking to one of our wildlife experts! Offering food, water, or formula of any kind can end up hurting or killing the babies. The absolute best thing you can do for the babies when you get it contained is to get them warm and contact us immediately!
If the raccoon is an injured or ill adult, the same steps should be followed. Put the raccoon in a sturdy box or pet travel carrier, and place it somewhere warm, dark, and quiet, don't offer any food or water, and reach out to us for further assistance. Injuries vary drastically, and we won't be able to tell you how to administer aid to not cause further harm without detailed descriptions of the problem.
TL;DR Help, I found a raccoon!
Capture - catch the injured or orphaned animal in a manner that is safe for both you and the wildlife
Contain - contain the animal in a sturdy box, tub, or pet carrier that has a lid it can't escape from
Warmth - place half of the container on top of a heating pad, place a bottle filled with hot water and wrapped in a towel inside the carrier, or use another source of heat to carefully warm the animal while allowing it to rest in a dark and quiet place away from children or pets, and limit handling.
Contact - Please reach out to us, your local game warden or wildlife officer, or another licensed wildlife rehabilitator to get further instructions. We can be reached via text at 903.636.3193, by call at 903.858.1008, or via our website here at www.tigercreek.org or www.awildlife.org.
