A bundle of orphaned raccoons is thriving at the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Metchosin, despite being brought in when they were so young their eyes were still closed.
The foursome came into the care of the BC SPCA centre in late April and were likely only a week old – too young to be without their mother, according to Wild ARC.
Common reasons for orphaned kits include mother raccoons being trapped and relocated or killed. The four found in April were healthy when they arrived and Wild ARC rehabilitators were tasked with keeping them that way.
READ ALSO: Raccoon drags leg trap around Oak Bay for days, dies at wild animal rehab centre
Orphaned baby raccoons need about six months of intensive care before they are ready to return to the wild, according to the BC SCPA. Along with a species-specific formula, raccoons need to learn climbing, foraging and social skills – a task that falls to staff and volunteers.
Those looking to offer a hand-up can make a raccoon-specific donation of $50 – which feeds one for a week – at shop.spca.bc.ca.
READ ALSO: Island-dwelling blonde raccoon hits the beach on hot summer day in B.C.
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