Increasingly, there are videos on social media of users finding raccoon babies and eating them. What you should really do if you find a small raccoon, read here.
Almost 13 million people had followed a successful rescue operation on TikTok: Last year, user and animal lover Sara Turnbull (@sara_turnbull) called the fire department after hearing noises from a shaft. Many hours later, the helpers rescued a small raccoon safely and left it to Sara for care:
She nursed the hungry and tired baby back to health and informed in a video update that she had given the little raccoon to a breeding station. Numerous videos like this are circulating on social media and obviously people always know what to do. In Germany, too, the raccoon population is now estimated at one million animals (as of 2022) and admittedly, the little bears are truly cute fellows. But how exactly do you behave when you find a helpless raccoon baby yourself?
Characteristics Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
As Geolino reports, raccoons are predators and belong to the family of small bears. They are good climbers and are masterful swimmers who even have the strength to swim against the current.
Origin: North America
Size: approx. 80 centimeters (females are smaller)
Weight: 5-8 kilograms (females are lighter)
Food: Raccoons are omnivores and take what they get. To do this, they even loot garbage cans.
Offspring: In spring, the raccoons mate. Nine weeks later, usually in April or May, the female gives birth to 2-6 cubs. About six weeks later, the young leave their nest for the first time, and at the age of 4 months the male raccoons look for their own foraging area.
Good to know: Raccoons are among the most intelligent animals of all and have an excellent memory.
Raccoon baby found: what do I have to do now?
As reported by the Wildlife Rescue, in 99% of cases only the raccoon mother is alone in search of food and therefore recommends leaving the raccoon puppies alone unless there is an obvious emergency. If the mother smells or sees people near her young, she will not return to them as long as there is a risk of human contact.
If the little raccoons are a little older, it is very likely that they are simply exploring. If they do not appear injured or malnourished, there is no need for you to take any action.
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In preparation for "real" life, the mother now lets the puppies look for food themselves, moves away and observes or goes in search of food herself. "Often you find the 'left helpless' puppies and take them with you." Because: "Even if they wander around crying and whining, it is often completely normal, because they would much rather be cuddly and warm on mom's teats instead of looking for food themselves." However, according to Wildlife Rescue, many people make the same mistake when they find seemingly abandoned raccoons and help where no help is needed.
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Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
Unlike in America, raccoons are considered invasive species in Germany. Therefore, anyone who releases found raccoons back into the wild is liable to prosecution, as the Tagesspiegel reports.
If a small raccoon appears to be in serious danger, it is best to inform a special sanctuary and ask for advice there. The Animal Welfare Association informs about the procedure there: "Rescue centers often take care of young or injured raccoons. These may no longer be released into the wild."
Ban on feeding raccoons:
As can be read on bussgeldkatalog.org, raccoons are also subject to a strict feeding ban: "In many federal states, the state hunting laws also stipulate aban on feeding raccoons (e.g. Berlin). It is an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine of up to about 5,000 euros."
In general, as with most other wild animals, the behavior recommended by experts is often restraint. The parents of many wild juveniles often stay nearby, but are not visible to humans. In the case of raccoon babies, up to 48 hours can pass before the mother reappears.
