Baby mammals are most successful when raised by their mother in the wild. The mother will provide them with the best sources of nutrition and teach them how to find food and recognize and avoid potential threats. This makes baby animals raised in the wild more adaptable and prepared to survive. For these reasons, we urge people who find baby animals to evaluate the situation and attempt to renest or reunite babies with their mothers before bringing them into Project Wildlife for care.

Very young mammals are often left alone while their mother looks for food and to avoid attracting other animals to the nest or den site. If you find a disturbed nest or a baby mammal without mom, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the baby has been abandoned or orphaned. Siempre suponemos que la madre está viva y cuida de sus bebés, a menos que se demuestre lo contrario.

Si ha trasladado a una cría, ha encontrado una cría sola o ha alterado un nido, utilice este recurso para intentar reunirla con su madre y vigilar su salud, a menos que la madre se encuentre fallecida.

Información general

Raccoons typically make their dens in hollow trees, rocky riverbank crevices or in the ground. In cities and neighborhoods, raccoons may make their dens in attics, chimneys or abandoned buildings. Raccoon kits (babies) will stay in their den until they are weaned from their mother’s milk at approximately 8 to 10 weeks old. Once weaned, kits will leave the den and begin to learn how to find food under the guidance of their mother. Raccoons have multiple den sites, so if their den is damaged or a baby falls, mom may just need time to move her babies. Please note that, contrary to popular belief, mom won’t abandon her babies simply because you touched them. However, she will not return if you are too close to the baby or den since humans are seen as threats.

Edad de los animales

Antes de comenzar el renesting or reuniting effort, please use the information below to confirm the age of the animal you found. Once confirmed, follow the renesting instrucciones en función de la edad del animal.

Bebés

• Ojos cerrados, parcialmente abiertos o totalmente abiertos
• El pelaje puede variar de sin pelaje a totalmente cubierto
• Rounder head
• Puede parecer torpe
• Less than 12” long

Juvenil

• Ojos completamente abiertos
• Fully furred
• Very vocal
• Climb and move well
• More than 12” long

Chequeo médico

Renest o reunir sólo a los bebés sanos. La madre no volverá a por un bebé enfermo ni podrá ayudarle a recuperarse.

Compruebe lo siguiente:

• Significant injury (the animal has broken bones, deep cuts, or is non-responsive, gasping, limp, bleeding, etc.)
• Signos de enfermedad (caída, secreción ocular o nasal, ojos con costras)
• Seen attacked by a pet (or other animal)
• Fleas or ticks all over their body
• Ant, fly or maggot infestation on the baby or in the den

We recommend bringing any baby with these symptoms to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation. Minor scratches or bruises are not cause for concern unless known to be caused by a cat attack. If the baby does not have any of these symptoms and seems healthy, begin the renesting proceso. Si el bebé está frío al tacto, caliéntelo antes del renesting proceso.

Cronología

Renest or reunite raccoons at dawn, dusk or after sunset. Raccoons are most active at night, and mom may not feel safe moving her babies during daylight hours. If you picked up and kept a raccoon for 24 hours or longer already AND no other babies remain outside, we recommend bringing the baby into Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation.

Renesting y supervisión Nidos

1. Make a holding container. Choose a container that is big enough to keep the baby from climbing or falling out, such as a storage bin or cardboard box. Line with a towel and poke drainage holes in the bottom. Cover half of the opening with a lid or cardboard. Remember, the mother needs to be able to fit in the container to retrieve her baby! If the baby is old enough to climb out of the container, place them in a safe location near the found location/den site and cover them in an upside-down laundry basket with a 5-pound weight on top. The mom will be able to lift the basket or move the weight enough to retrieve the baby.
2. Return to where you found the baby and set the container close by, ideally up off the ground and secured in a nearby tree, bushes, etc. The most important thing is to return the baby close to the original location. If possible, play a baby raccoon distress call (from YouTube) a few times after placing the baby in the container, and then leave the area. Mom may be too scared to approach if people are nearby or may become aggressive to protect her baby.
3. Recheck the holding container in 12 hours. For example, if you attempt to reunite at dawn, check at dusk. If you attempt to reunite at dusk, check at dawn the next day.
4. If the baby is still there and is still in good condition, you can give more time for the mom to come back.

If the baby is not retrieved within 24 hours or their condition is worsening, we recommend bringing the baby to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation.

Reuniting Juveniles

1. Return or leave the baby at the location where they were found. At this age, they are starting to move around their environment and begin traveling with mom. Depending on their age, mom may “stash” her kits somewhere safe while she looks for food and travels. Juveniles do not need containment or supplemental heat for reunification attempts.
2. Monitor the baby for 24 hours. Juvenile raccoons will either return to their den on their own or move to a new location with their mother. Make sure you leave the baby where they are (or return them to where found) for a full 24 hours, including overnight. Leave the area as mom may not feel safe returning while you are present. Intervene early if the baby gets weaker or they become more vocal.

If the baby is not retrieved within 24 hours or their condition is worsening, we recommend bringing them to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation.