Raccoon
96
Number of raccoons we treated in 2015!
Be very careful not to create orphan raccoons by accident. When a baby raccoon is separated from its mother during the night, the baby will stay where it is until the mother returns, which may not be until the next night. People often find a sleeping baby raccoon and will assume it needs to be rescued. However, it is likely that the mother will be back after dark. If the baby raccoon is not in imminent danger, it’s best to observe the baby for another 24 hours without disturbing it.
Mother raccoons often give birth in the spring in and around our homes. When homeowners hire pest control companies to remove the mother, the babies will be left behind. The best solution is to wait a few weeks until the babies are mobile and joining their mother for foraging. After they’ve left your dwelling for the evening, it’s safe to close their access for good.
Baby Raccoons
1. Always wear gloves when handling raccoons. They can carry a variety of diseases including rabies!
2. First, establish that the baby raccoon needs to be rescued. If the baby looks healthy, it is best to wait and watch for up to 24 hours before taking action. If there is no sign of the mother, or if the baby is injured or being stalked by a predator, it’s time to bring the baby to us.
3. Warm a soft cloth or an old t-shirt in the dryer and place it in the bottom of a box with air holes. You can keep the box warm by filling a plastic bottle with hot water (not boiling) and wrapping it in a soft cloth to place next to the baby.
4. Carefully lift the baby and place it in the box. (No bare hands!)
5. Close the box and bring it to the Phoenix Wildlife Center as soon as possible.
Do not handle, feed, or transport injured adult raccoons. Adult raccoons can be very vicious and aggressive, can move quickly, and can cause serious injury to you and themselves.
Call us at (410) 628-9736.