CREATURES *** 1998 Raccoons !

Last Update -

Found an orphaned baby Raccoon??
Then immediately contact the nearest Rehabilitator, Vet, or Natural resources Dept. for help.... Do Not Delay.... The longer you wait, the less chance the baby has of surviving... DON'T try to care for babies, without help, if you've never successfully raised Raccoons before.... Also, be aware that Raccoons are susceptible to Rabies. Avoid scratches and bites that break the skin and bleed.

	Arrived 19 April - These four babies are victims of man's increasing destruction of wild animal habitat on Hilton Head Island, SC. in the name of "Progress".... Gotta have more Condos....
	All Four - were found in chimneys.... As the trees are cut down, mother raccoons have resorted to alternative dens.... Unfortunately, baby raccoons are a little less than quiet and were detected by the home owners.

	They come in pairs - Though both were found in the same chimney, one actually appears to be a couple weeks younger than the other.... Both are missing the end of their tails....
	How Cruel Can Nature Be ? - The smaller (runt) of the two, has the outside toes missing off both back feet... These are not birth defects... Something was trying to eat these little babies when they were younger....
	Monkee Business !! - Though still the smaller of the original group, she thinks she's the biggest... Spoiled is an under statement... She is extremely dark in color and has a wonderful nature...

	Can we say Swamped?? - Well, Dixie and I can because we are..... This year has seen an unusually large number of orphans thanks to a man that has found a way to make money ridding what inconsiderate humans call pests..... The development of expensive housing on Hilton Head has destroyed a great deal of the natural nesting areas for raccoons... As a result, raccoons have moved into the chimneys and under the houses to have their young...
	Cute but noisey. - When the babies start making noise, the home owners want them gone... and Gone they are with one phone call... We have tried to take in all we can because without someone to keep them, they are destroyed... If you have a home with a chimney and it doesn't have a cover on it... Please, spend the $50 to buy a cap for it... You may save a baby,,,,,,,
	Feeding Time... - With 23 mouths to feed, we have to do it in shifts... Many are now close to weaning and have learned to hold their bottles and feed themselves... These six will be followed by five more twice daily... Others are eating out of bowls and several are still hand fed.... Words can't describe how entertaining this is,,,,

	Bandit or Pick Pocket ?? - Now that most of the kits are in the outside pre release pen, minor repairs can be a challenge... Finding a place to put tools, to prevent them from becoming toys, is even more of a challenge...
	Shhhhh... She's napping - Just like children, they play so had that they fall asleep where ever they get tired.... Of course, this makes it difficult for the rest to cross the bridge....

	Hey, I'm really tryin to sleep here.... - Here it is September and we have now released most of our early season babies.... All are doing well and still visiting each evening. Now, this late arrival is Rascal... He was raised by a young Navy man who asked use to introduce him back into the wild... He's slowly moving back outside but he truly loves to nap on the couch where it's cool....
	Go ahead, make my day... - Wuffy is our 1st arrival for the late season babies. He had fallen from his Litter Den and was hanging by his head in the branches of a Palmetto tree. He was rescued by a construction worker that heard his cries.. He was about 5 weeks old when he arrived and is now about 8 weeks old and doing great..
	Well, At least the wind stopped.. - Tropical Storm Earl really disrupted these baby's way of life when he blew down their mother's litter den tree. These kits came from Hilton Head Island and are about 2 weeks old. They have been christened Earl and Earlene. Both have adapted to the new arrangements and are doing very well.
	Is it a Boy or Girl ? - We've been asked how to tell male from female so often this season, I decided to add a visual aid. In the photo, the baby on the left is a female and the one on the right is a male... This is easily distinguishable in babies of all ages.....

	Once a hand full... - Earl and Earlene are now an arm full... They've grown like weeds and are now ready to move into the pre-release cage outside. Though Earl is still very insecure if he is picked up, he will soon learn to climb with the best... Wufffy and his new friends will make wonder play mates for these two.
	Rascal's made a huge Raccoon !! - Well, he's doing great outside and has made one of the largest raccoons we have. He's also one of the most loving and docile males we've ever handled. He loves to lay down and eat and has been known to lay between two bowls of food and eat out of both.. He is one beautiful raccoon....
	Peek_a_Booo !!- There's nothing like a big pile of pillows to play in.... You can hide here for hours and nobody can find you.... hehehehehe That is unless you try to sneak a peek to see who's in the room.... Earlene's game of the night...

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