Raccoon
Procyon lotor
About
Raccoons mate in January-March and give birth to litters of 1-8 young, which are born in April-May. Births can occur later in the season, but it is less common. Raccoon kits are born blind, deaf, and sparsely furred. Babies are typically weaned by 3 months of age, but remain as a family unit until late fall and sometimes into early spring. Raccoons can be found in many different habitats, including cities and suburbs.
Raccoon babies are most often encountered when the mother is moving them to a new den site. She is only able to carry one at a time, so multiple trips need to be taken in order to relocate an entire family.
Found a baby raccoon?
Every chance should be given to reunite baby raccoons with their mother. For healthy-appearing raccoon babies, 24-48 hours should be given for the mother to collect them. Always use thick gloves or barriers if you need to handle a baby raccoon. Babies can be placed in a box tall enough that they cannot climb out, but not so high that the mother cannot climb in to retrieve the babies.
Do any of the following apply?
the baby has an obvious injury
the baby has been in the mouth of a dog or cat (even if it does not appear to be injured)
flies are swarming around the baby and/or it is covered in fly eggs, which look like tiny grains of white rice. Flystrike is most often seen around the face and under the tail.
the baby is cold, wet, and/or lethargic
the mother is confirmed dead or has been illegally relocated
If you answered YES to any of these prompts, call a licensed rehabilitator for advice.
If the answer to all prompts is NO, attempts should be made to reunite the baby with its mother.
*An excellent guide to reuniting raccoons can be found here.
Never handle raccoons with bare hands. If you must handle a raccoon, use heavy gloves or a thick barrier to transfer the animal into a box.
If you see a raccoon that appears to be sick, disoriented, or overly friendly or aggressive, reach out to a licensed rehabilitator. Some towns may have Animal Control that are willing to respond or assess the situation. Keep pets and children away from the animal.
In addition to rabies, raccoons are also susceptible to distemper. Distemper is not transmissible to humans, but the symptoms can look similar to rabies.
