09/25/2026
Let’s talk about raccoons!
These cuties spent the summer at WWRC getting ready for their new lives in the wild. They came in as babies (orphans) and have been living in an enclosure outside for quite a while now, getting used to the sights and sounds of the woods.
When each of these babies were admitted, they were given a thorough exam. They were checked for wounds, infections, ticks, other bugs, and anything else that didn’t look quite right. If they are dehydrated, they immediately received fluids. They were fed KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement) according to their body weight. Some arrived together, others alone. It’s always better to have raccoon babies with other raccoon babies rather than alone. Luckily raccoons usually accept other raccoons with no issues.
As they grew, we started adding real food to the cage: cat food (dry and wet) along with Cheerios. They also got fruit such as grapes and blueberries and later, corn on the cob. Raccoons are omnivores, just like humans. Once they are weaned, they move outside to one of the big enclosures. At this point, we stopped handling them and talking to them. We made sure they had fresh food and water daily and cleaned up after them, but we didn't interact with them anymore. It was now time for them to become independent and to learn to fear people so they will be safer upon release.
In the wild, raccoon babies need their mother – she is the only parent who will take care of them. This could be why occasionally (often during baby season) you see a raccoon out in the middle of the day – this does not mean it has rabies. Sometimes they are looking for food or maybe she just needs a break from the kids (any new parent has probably felt the same way!) A raccoon mother is very caring of her babies and strokes them often. A baby raccoon needs to be cuddled and touched to stay healthy. If the mother dies, the babies will look for help anywhere they can. They follow anything that moves in the hopes that whatever or whoever it is can take care of them.
Raccoons are very intelligent animals and love to solve puzzles. They enjoy having lots of different kinds of toys and puzzles in their enclosures inside and outside. That’s why they are so good at opening things. Once they learn how something (like a trash can…) opens, they remember how they did it and can apply that knowledge to other objects, too. Rascals!
Raccoons also put food and other things into water, not to clean the object, but because the water increases their sense of touch. They are very tactile animals.
Raccoons are also a “vector species”, meaning they can transmit pathogens (viruses, bacteria, or parasites) from one infected host to another. One of these pathogens is rabies. You should never touch a raccoon without gloves, or a towel or blanket. Our volunteers have pre-exposure rabies vaccinations to protect them from this possibility.
Raccoons stay with us until they reach about 10 pounds. In the fall on a beautiful day, it’s time to say goodbye. We release the raccoons - in groups - into the forest somewhere far away from people with a fresh water source and food such as acorns. They will find worms and other food under the dead leaves, maybe minnows or crayfish in the water. They will climb trees, find places to live, and start their lives as the wild animals they are.
Welcome home to these little rascals!
(You'll find more videos of this release in the comments!)
