Raccoons: Emergency Care

If you have found a baby and know that the mom is dead, this information is to hold you over until you can contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Here is what you need to do.

Make sure that you have found all the babies. Raccoon kits are kept in dens in old trees, so check the area where you have found your baby for others.

The first thing you need to do after you have found all the baby raccoons is to check for ticks and other parasites, remove them if you cannot take the babies immediately to a veterinarian.

Once you have checked for parasites make sure the babies are warm. Keep them warm at all times. For the first 24 hours feed the babies warm pedialyte every 3-4 hours, even through the night. Use an eyedropper for the small babies, and a pet-nursing bottle for older babies. Feed the baby in an upright position, never on its back.

Raccoon kits love to eat, so as soon as the tummy is full stop feeding. After feeding you must burp your baby. You also need to take a warm damp cloth and rub the babies tummy until they go to the bathroom. What goes in must come out.

Make sure that you wash your hands and anything that comes in contact with the babies. Keep all household pets away from the babies.

Keep the babies in an enclosed area, they love to climb and will get into everything. This can be dangerous to you and the babies.

This information is just for emergency purposes until you contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

If you cannot locate a rehabber in your area please contact your conservation office, vet clinic, humane society, animal shelter, or use Wildlife International's Rehab Search. If you are still having trouble please contact Symbiotic Wildlife Rehabilitation Society for more information.