ORPHANED RACCOON KITS
A lot of people have come in with
various questions about young raccoons, usually after having found
an abandoned kit. My feelings about this are fairly strong, and I
can't stress enough that raccoons do NOT
make "good pets". This is not to say that they can
never be kept by humans, nor to say that they cannot live with
humans, but it is an excellent generalization. In many
states it is illegal to keep a raccoon for a
pet. Ohio does allow it, but a permit must be acquired
through the fish and game commission. Also please be aware,
that unless you have a permit to keep a raccoon, or are a licensed
wildlife rehabilitator, veterinarians cannot provide it medical
attention.
Raccoons require the most attention
and care of any animal I have ever known, even more than a human
infant, and get themselves into much worse trouble. For their
happiness and yours, I urge you not to attempt to raise a raccoon
yourself, unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Besides the obvious problems that
can arise when trying to raise a wild animal, there are other
problems -- most importantly, health problems like rabies, and
Baylisascaris procyonis (the raccoon roundworm). Both of these pose
GREAT risks to humans, including the risk of death, and can be
transmitted from raccoons to humans very easily. These reasons
alone should make you think twice about raising one.
The best thing you could possibly do
when presented with a young, helpless raccoon is to call a wildlife
rehabilitator. I would urge you not to call Animal
Control or the police unless you intend to do so anonymously to
find the name of a nearby rehabilitator. Rehabilitators know how to
raise and care for raccoons and return them to the wild, and this
is always the best course of action.
In our area, the Second Change
Wildlife Rehabilitators do an excellent job of caring for, and
returning orphaned animals to the wild. They can be reached at
875-3433 If you are unable to reach them, call our clinic at
797-7387 Until the kit is turned over to a
rehabilitator, please keep it warm!. Set a
heating pad on low, wrap it in a towel, and put the baby on
it. These little guys cannot maintain their own body
temperature, and must be provided a source of external heat.
Without warmth, they will die.
Never try to feed a baby who is
cold. When chilled, it looses it swallow reflex. Any
liquid you give it will go straight into the lungs. The
animal will literally drown.
Raccoons should never he raised
singly. It is important for them to interact with each other, to
compete, play and learn social skills. They should never be
raised around dogs as this is a natural predator. Human
contact should be limited to the main caretakers and voices should
not be used around them.
How old is the kit you have found?
Below are some rough guidelines to
estimate the baby’s age.
