Mama Raccoon Release

In mid-June our Wildlife Hospital admitted this adult raccoon who was suffering from a significant leg sprain. Her finder had seen her stumbling around, unable to put pressure on her one back leg and was of course concerned for her well-being. The finder humanely trapped her and brought her to Cedar Run for care.

Video of release: Mama Raccoon Video 2022

During her admission exam our Wildlife Rehabilitators noticed that this was a lactating mother, meaning that some babies had been left behind when she was trapped. This is a huge concern during the spring and summer months when babies are being born. For this raccoon, it was necessary to get her medical care. Mother raccoons have to forage day and night to support themselves and their babies. They have to climb trees to get to their dens and they have to successfully evade predators. Unfortunately this raccoon would not have been able to complete these necessary behaviors. Trapping healthy raccoons simply for relocation at this time if year is highly discouraged because of the possibility of orphaning babies.

The finder of this raccoon was advised to keep an eye and ear out for any baby raccoons that may appear or be heard calling for their mother within the next few days. Raccoon babies will scream extremely loudly when orphaned and tumble out of their dens as they become restless. Unfortunately the location of the den was unknown and no signs of the babies appeared.

Luckily for this adult raccoon, her leg injury was a sprain and not a fracture which would have required much more of a rehabilitation process. With “bed rest,” medications, and a nutritious diet she was able to be released two weeks after she arrived. She was taken back to her territory and was very happy to say goodbye!

If you have questions regarding native New Jersey wildlife, please call our Wildlife Hospital at 856-983-3329 ext. 107.