“When they first arrived their eyes and ears were still closed and they were dehydrated and very hungry."
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BCSPCA
May 31, 2020 - 7:30 AM
An adult female raccoon was recently trapped and removed from an area, which meant her two baby raccoons were unknowingly left behind.
The orphans were found a few days later when they were heard crying and calling for their mother. They are now being cared for at BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre, which can be viewed through a wildlife cam.
“When they first arrived their eyes and ears were still closed and they were dehydrated and very hungry,” Andrea Wallace, manager, wild animal welfare, said in a press release. “The raccoons are now being fed a specialized diet five times a day to ensure they get the nutrition they need to develop properly.”
However, according to Wallace, the baby raccoons have “a long road of care ahead as they develop and learn how to fend for themselves. It will take until the fall before they will be ready for life on their own back in the wild.”
The story of these orphaned raccoons serves as a reminder that the BC SPCA does not recommend trapping and relocating wildlife away from their home.
“This is generally not a permanent or humane solution and can not only lead to situations like leaving young behind,” Wallace said.
“It can also result in injury when an animal tries to escape a trap. The animal may also starve trying to find food, get into fights with other animals over territory, or spend vital energy trying to return home.” For these reasons, says Wallace, trapping and relocating wildlife is not recommended nor is it an effective long-term solution as other individuals will move in their place.
You can also call the BC SPCA Provincial Call Centre toll free at 1-855-622-7722 for help and advice.
Want to receive more stories like this, right in your inbox? Subscribe to WildSense, our bi-monthly wildlife newsletter.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020