Raccoon - Lakeside Nature Center

Wildlife Assistance > Wildlife in Need > Mammals > Raccoon in Need

About Raccoons

*Raccoon in Rehab Hospital. Photo © Juanita Bach*

Raccoons have adapted and probably even profited by human encroachment on their habitat. Their opportunistic and intelligent nature has helped them flourish in suburban and urban settings. Still, there are some challenges in this co-existence with people. Raccoons don’t have good manners and are prone to leaving garbage strewn across driveways/yards while sifting for treats. And they will sometimes choose a nesting site that is in or near our homes.

In the natural world, raccoons snare a lot of their meals in the water. These nocturnal foragers use lightning-quick paws to grab crayfish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures. On land, they pluck mice and insects from their hiding places and raid nests for tasty eggs. Raccoons also eat fruit and plants—including those grown in human gardens and farms. They will even open garbage cans to dine on the contents. They may inhabit a tree hole, fallen log, or a house’s attic.

Females have one to seven cubs in early spring. They typically have one litter per season but occasionally will have two. Baby raccoons are born furred and blind and similar in size to domestic kittens. Their eyes open at three to four weeks and by eight weeks the kits have grown to nearly one-third their adult size. They wean at 10 to 12 weeks and start traveling with their mother at this time. Baby raccoons can survive on their own when they are about the size of a football. Young raccoons often spend the first two months or so of their lives high in a tree hole. Later, mother and children move to the ground when the cubs begin to explore on their own.

Important Information

Photo courtesy Светлана from Pixabay

Raccoons can carry diseases harmful to people and pets.

See below for information on rabies, distemper and raccoon roundworm.

Photo courtesy S. Nagel from Pixabay

Raccoons require special handling.

Please call the Nature Center at 816-513-8960 for instructions on collecting and transporting the animal(s).

Baby raccoon. Photo © Susie Harris

Do not give food or water to a baby raccoon.

Raccoons require a special formula. In addition, if fed incorrectly they can aspirate, which causes pneumonia.

Rabies

Raccoons are classified as a rabies vector species (RVS), which means it’s an animal that can carry and transmit rabies. Technically, any mammal can do so, but raccoons are a higher risk. Thus, the animal is subject to certain laws by the state. Raccoons can carry rabies without exhibiting any signs of the disease.

Special Handling Required – Call the Nature Center immediately at (816) 513-8960 so we can help you with a decision about a raccoon.

Raccoons with rabies are contagious to other susceptible animals. Because of this, their offspring can be born with the disease as well. There is no cure for rabies and the incubation period is 2 weeks.

Handle any raccoon with caution, regardless of age or docility. Accidents can happen, and if a non-aggressive nip breaks the skin, you must euthanize the raccoon for rabies testing. The only way to diagnose rabies is by examining the animal’s brain.

Rabies tests for humans are expensive and treatments are painful. Humans exposed to rabies have a 99% fatality rate if they do not receive quick treatment. It is best to avoid direct contact, and let professionals handle raccoons.

Your county health department is responsible for testing the raccoon in question. You should also call animal control and transport the raccoon as soon as possible because of the health risks and the difficulty of keeping them contained.

Distemper

Raccoons can carry both the feline and canine forms of distemper. While this is not transmittable to humans, it is fatal to the animal and the Nature Center can provide a humane euthanasia and cremation services for affected animals.

Raccoon Roundworm

Raccoon can carry a parasite called Baylisascaris procyon (raccoon roundworm), which can infect humans. Raccoons do not exhibit clinical signs of infection, but it can kill humans if left untreated. Therefore, it is extremely important to be careful around baby raccoons and not attempt to raise them yourself. In the Midwest, approximately 59% of all raccoons test positive for Baylisascaris.

Your pet can also contract all three of the above diseases. Make sure your pets are current on their vaccinations if they have been in contact with a raccoon.

Signs of Immediate Need

If any of these signs are visible, please call the Nature Center at 816-513-8960 for instructions on collecting and transporting the animal(s).

Information on our location is here.

Someone found the baby’s mother dead.
Animal is bleeding or has broken limbs.
Flies, fleas, ticks or ants are visible on the animal.
Appears weak, lethargic and/or cold.
Animal is emaciated and/or dehydrated (do the pinch test)
1. Pinch the skin on the animal’s back between two fingers.
2. Hold the skin for a few seconds and release.
3. Observe how quickly the skin returns to its normal shape.
4. If the skin is quick to return to normal, it’s a sign it is hydrated, whereas if it takes longer it could be dehydrated.
Crying, screaming and moaning (raccoons are very vocal).

Frequent Situations

Baby raccoon in rehab hospital. Photo © Operation Wildlife

Baby raccoon in rehab hospital. Photo © Operation Wildlife

Baby raccoon. Photo © Susie Harris

A baby was found separated from its mother.

If a baby raccoon shows signs of immediate need (see above) call the Nature Center at 816-513-6980 for instructions on collecting and transporting the animal(s).

If you find a baby raccoon that has been separated from its mother and it doesn’t show signs of immediate need, reuniting them with their mom is the best possible option. Raccoons are excellent mothers and will come back for their babies if given a chance. They will also take much better care of their babies than any human possibly could.

When a nest has been disturbed like this, we know that the mother raccoon is still nearby. She might be too frightened to come back right away, especially if people are still in the area.

Do not give the babies anything to eat or drink.
Besides causing other potential problems, we want the babies to be hungry. If they are hungry they will cry and the cries will call their mother.

Raccoons are nocturnal and will most likely come looking for their babies at night.
When the sun begins to set, place a box with the baby raccoon(s), and a heat source, as close as possible to where the baby was found. Baby raccoons should be left out for one whole overnight period to see if their mother will come back. Make sure to keep the baby warm – refresh the heat source as needed.

How to create heat sources.
Heat sources might include a heated water bottle, heated rice bag or hand warmer. To create a heated rice bag, fill a sock with uncooked dry rice. Microwave the rice-filled sock for 30 to 60 seconds. This heat source will last about 20 to 30 minutes. Place the heat source in the box or container under a towel, and place the animal on or near it, but not directly in contact with the heat source. The most important thing is to keep them warm and quiet. Keep the container away from people, pets and noise.

The baby was found in a busy area.
In high traffic areas, you can put a sign on the box to let other people know that the raccoon is waiting for its mother. In busy areas, it may make more sense to bring the baby inside and keep it somewhere dark and quiet for the day. As soon as the sun starts to set and traffic dies down, get it outside right away. No matter what, make sure to leave baby raccoons out for their mother for at least one whole overnight period.

The baby keeps crawling out of the box.
Older baby raccoons may not stay in the box you put them in. For these babies, cover them with an upside-down laundry basket. Put a brick on top of the laundry basket to keep it in place. The mother raccoon will have no trouble flipping the basket over to get her baby out.

What to do if it is raining.
If it is raining lightly, cover half of the box with a piece of cardboard. If it is raining hard, bring the baby inside and keep it dark, warm and away from people, pets and noises. Put it back outside as soon as the weather clears up a bit. A mother raccoon will not be looking for her babies during a heavy rain.

Baby raccoons were found in an outdoor den.

If you find healthy babies uncovered in an outdoor den, you should leave them alone. Their mother will come back, probably after dark, and move them if the den has been damaged beyond repair.

If the babies show signs of immediate need (see above), contact the Nature Center at 816-513-6980 for instructions on collecting and transporting the babies.

The mother was killed by a pet.

You should look for a nearby den. If found, contact the Nature Center at 816-513-6980 for instructions on collecting and transporting the babies.

A raccoon is seen out during the day.

Mother raccoons are single parents and raise the babies by themselves. They may be out during the day foraging for food or seeking water – this is normal. Take a moment to observe what the animal is doing. A healthy raccoon that is out during the day should be clean, shiny looking, and should be in a hurry. It should be acting as though it has purpose.

A likely sick raccoon out during the day can:
• appear aimless or drunken,
• be walking in circles or lying in the middle of an open area,
• sometimes have nasal and eye discharge.

These behaviors are not normal and require attention. In the KC metro area you may call KC Pet Project at 816-683-1383. If you are outside the KC metro area, call your local Animal Control

Keep children and pets to away and warn your neighbors to do the same. It is important to make sure pets are current on their distemper vaccinations. Distemper is an airborne virus that it is extremely contagious.

A dead adult raccoon was found.

If the dead animal is a female and appears to have been feeding recently, you may want to look for a nearby den. If babies are found, contact the Nature Center for instructions at (816) 513-8960.

Raccoons are in the attic, under the porch or in the basement.

Go to Evict Wildlife From Your Home.

A raccoon is in the chimney.

Do not start a fire to drive a raccoon out of a chimney. There is probably a nest built in the chimney and babies cannot climb. They will asphyxiate and die of smoke inhalation.

Use the same techniques listed at Evict Wildlife From Your Home to encourage the raccoon to take her kits and move on. Walk around the house and check for low limbs. Chances are this is how the raccoon has gained access. Limbs should not be trimmed until the raccoon has moved out. If you remove the limbs before the animals relocate, it is likely they will be trapped (possibly with a small family). After the raccoon/family has vacated, cap the chimney and secure vents to prevent future occupants. If you must remove them from your chimney, and you have already capped it, you can place the babies outside at dusk for Mom to retrieve them. They need to be warm and in a shallow container. Place the container at the spot that Mom uses to gain access to the chimney. She should retrieve the babies and take them elsewhere. If she does not retrieve the babies or leaves some behind, contact the Nature Center as soon as possible.

Critter control removed mother but there are still babies.

If you had a professional service remove a nuisance animal, you need to contact that same company to remove any of their offspring.

A raccoon is stuck in a dumpster.

Placed a 2” x 4”, tree branch or a rope into the dumpster to provide a way for the animal to get out. If the raccoon is still in the dumpster the next morning, call the Nature Center. During the day, check on the raccoon and if weather is hot, provide water in a shallow dish.

Raccoons are getting into the garbage.

The easiest way to keep raccoons out of garbage is to keep garbage cans in the garage until the morning of pick up. If cans must be left out overnight or are kept outside all the time, purchase cans with locking lids or secure the lids with bungie cords.

Raccoons are eating the pet food.

If you leave pet food bowls for dogs or cats outside at night, you are inviting opportunistic raccoons to dinner. Either feed the pets inside or bring their food inside at dusk to prevent raccoons (and other animals) from eating the food.

Relocating raccoons when free meals are around will not solve the problem. New animals will find their way to the free meal and the cycle will continue. Keep in mind that food supply is directly proportional to litter size. When a food source is regularly available, it weakens the species by creating individuals who lack proper hunting and foraging skills.

Raccoons in Need.