Wee baby
May 23, 2018. Doug, my husband, has a friend at work who found a wee baby of a raccoon laying on the pavement in the heat at the treatment plant. He did not what to do with it and asked Doug if he knew someone who can take care of it. But of course he said "Amy." So here we are. Got home from work and saw Rocket the very first time! He was sooooo small and helpless and hissing when I tried to pet him. I was a little wary as we know that Raccoons carry rabies and lots of other parasites. But I can not let that stop me from helping this wee one survive. I have got to try.
According to some online sources, this baby might be between 2-3 weeks old as he (I think) already has his eyes open, ears not tightly closed anymore and seems like its teeth is just starting to break through the gums. Baby Raccoons are called "Kits." Doug got some liquid KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer) at MFA and we went to get baby nipples and a bottle after work. Rocket did not know what to do with the human baby nipples so the first 2 feedings were a little challenging. He does get in the groove for a while but still loses it once in a while. At the time of this writing, he has had 4 feedings (every 4 hours) and has only peed. On the 4th feeding, I have diluted the milk formula with water just in case he was constipated. Like the fawn I raised 2 years ago, apparently baby Coons need to be stimulated to be able to defecate and urinate. With a fawn, it was the easiest as once you start stimulating (gently rubbing their genitals) them, they go pretty quickly and will let you know when they are done. With kits, not so much. You will just have to eyeball it.
It will be remiss of me if I do not mention that handling and caring for wild animals are a little risky. There are four (4) common diseases that Raccoons are known to carry. Raccoon Roundworm, Lepstopirosis, Salmonella and Rabies. http://www.austinpug.org/4-common-infectious-diseases-spread-by-raccoons/
Suggestions to wear gloves and thoroughly washing hands are important in the handling of baby Coons. I do have Rocket wrapped in a clean dish towel whenever I feed him but I do not put on gloves as my hands are so tiny that I have a hard time finding gloves that fit. I just thoroughly wash my hands after every time I handle Rocket.
For more information on how to take care of baby Raccoons, please visit: http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/raccooncare.htm
