Words For Wildlife by State licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, James Orr
RACCOON STORY PART ONE
So I got talked into picking up four young raccoons as part of my wildlife rehabilitation work. All four had been raised in captivity since they were very young, one since birth by a Little Rock rehabilitator. All were very tame and I was supposed to handle the release by getting them acclimated to the ways of the wild.
As I drove home from Little Rock, I recalled the story of my certification trainer about his encounter with a tame raccoon. He warned me that in many ways these “tame” animals are more dangerous than wild ones as they are not afraid of people and as such can be very unpredictable.
He had picked up a pet raccoon like me for reintroduction to the wild. His coon managed to open the cage while riding in the car and started sticking its tongue in the ear of the driver my friend Darold. Thinking it was a fly, he swatted it only to realize too late it was the escaped full grown raccoon who in turn responded by attaching itself to his head while he was driving seventy miles an hour on a freeway. As the raccoon began munching on Darold’s head it was all he could do to keep control of the car.
You know how even a little cut on the head bleeds allot? Imagine passing a swerving car on the freeway and seeing blood splattering on the windows as the driver deals with any angry raccoon latched to his head. It sounds funny now, but Darold was not laughing at the time. He managed to pull over, detach the insulted “pet” and bandage his head with tissue. Unfortunately he was still in a dilemma, the cage was useless and he still had a mad raccoon loose in the car. It was summer and he rolled up the windows and turned the heater up full blast. Animals like people get lethargic when overheated. Darold managed to stay awake longer than the raccoon and he made it home without further incident. The raccoon apologized and was eventually released to the wild after proper rehabilitation.
At any rate back to me, I’m driving the 150 miles back to my Witter refuge with four urchins in a cage behind my seat I kept hearing the latch rattle and felt little hands reach around the seat and tug at my clothes. I hoped my cage is better made than the one Darold had.
We made it home and I released them into a very large cage with small pond, waterfall, climbing ropes, trees etc., everything they need to start learning how the wild works.
Smokey acted like a jail bird from some B move, holding the bars and rocking back and forth. Sweet Pea is obsessed with people an immediately scrambles up your leg trying to force love and hugs. The twins work in tandem trying to untie shoe laces, steal watches, or anything of interest that might be on your person. I begin to wonder, How hard can it be to prep 4 young raccoons for release? TO BE CONTINUED
MORAL OF THE STORY It is important to remember that even tame wild animals are still “wild” animals and can have the natural born instincts and behavior responses of a wild animal no matter how tame they might seem be. At any given time something might trigger those instincts. On another note, an injured wild animal often goes into shock and may seem friendly and tame. That can change suddenly and unexpectedly as it regains its senses.
LAWS ON WILDLIFE PETS The state of Arkansas recently passed new laws governing wildlife as pets. If someone takes a wild animal as a pet they become legally responsibly for that pet for the rest of its life. They cannot release it, sell it, or give it a way. Once a wild animal becomes imprinted with humans it is not safe for the animal or people for it to be released into the wild. Please think twice about taking a wild animal as a pet. If you want to help an injured or orphaned wild animal call a licensed rehabilitator. They are trained and equipped to care for the animal in a way that is least likely to cause it to become imprinted by humans.
DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount it is greatly appreciated. Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.
See web page under "HOW YOU CAN HELP" for specific ways you can help us help wildlife
