Raccoon Ridge Rehab

05/21/2026

It's May and baby season is at peak intakes until the end of June.
Lot of individual rehabbers and centers are full and resources are getting harder to find. It happens every year. Soooooooooo.........

Some friendly, okay snarky(?), advice for rescuers if you REALLY want to help an orphaned or injured wild animal.
--Understand that most of the people you are calling for help are unpaid for their tireless work.
--Try to remain open to the possibility that you might be wrong.
--Be open to expert advice instead of just telling us you can't do what we're asking.
--Take a deep breath BEFORE you EVER say we don't care!

--Experienced rehabbers have heard almost every reason WHY a caller can't do anything more than dial their phone.
--I can't bring them to you, I have children. C'mon.
--It's too far. REALLY? We will have that animal for up to 5 months and it's TOO FAR for you to drive an hour? Think about it.
--I'm afraid to touch it. Well, then how much do you really want to help it?
--It'll probably die before I can get it there so not going to bother. If you're a wildlife rehabilitator maybe you're right. If not, you may also be wrong. Dead wrong. If it's breathing, give it a chance.
--I don't want them in my yard. Why can't you just take these bunnies even though their mom is around? We beg people, literally beg, to not kidnap bunnies who are doing just fine. They do not do well in rehab and rehabbers can't use their resources on wild babies whose moms are out there taking care of them.
--Why can't you pick it up??? This is one of our favorites! Because we have hundreds of babies we are caring for and if we leave to pick up an animal, everyone here suffers. It's just not possible for most rehabilitators. We are working on fumes right now just to keep up with our patients. Trust me, not many people are busier than rehabbers in May and June.

And don't lie to us. You may have done something stupid or careless but if you don't tell us the truth about your rescue, you greatly diminish its chance for survival.

We are doing the best we can.

05/16/2026

Meet Delores the newest, a baby groundhog.

05/16/2026

Not the way to feed baby raccoons, but this one is a self starter

05/14/2026

Thank you to Susan and Greg Eckhart for calling about these babies.

05/13/2026

My oldest 4 in their playpen for the first time, raccoons need constant stimulation and enrichment.

05/08/2026

Feeding time is quiet, no talking to the babies to prepare them to survive in the wild. Of course a picture or video is a must. Can never get them all out at once. They are now in their 10x30 enclosure where they will be released around the end of August.

04/29/2026

This not rehabbing isn’t going well this year it’s been crazy busy. Up to 11 raccoon babies, foxes and 2 adults just came in, both with distemper.
Thank you to Pat Fox for the Kleenex ( was actually going to have to get some today) and 2 bags of puppy chow. Will need it soon, last 4 babies that came in with ‘mom’ are already 6 weeks old. Unfortunately, it’s NOT their mom, so I’m mom now.

04/26/2026

Babies moved to a bigger enclosure with mulch to dig in. Thanks Dave and Melissa for helping and for the yummy morel mushrooms!!

04/25/2026

9 little foxes and very loud blue jays. Have to video from afar or they run and hide. This is a temporary cage till they get bigger, then they will be moved to my 30x10 fox enclosure far from the house. They will get less and less human contact for their best chance of survival when released. As helpful to the environment and cute as they are some people are just haters and will kill anything!!!!!

04/25/2026

01/21/2026

Thank you to whoever sent 2 bags of Ole Roy dog food for the raccoons. So appreciated but no note.🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝