Photos provided by Monte Merrick.

 

The Humboldt Wildlife Care Center is currently housing 16 orphaned raccoons, and is asking for donations to help pay for all those hungry snouts.

In a Facebook post earlier this week, the HWCC said that the little fluffballs are drinking several mason jars of milk a day. In an effort to keep costs down, the care center is asking for donations during this raccoon crisis.

HWCC Director Monte Merrick told the Outpost in an email today that orphaned raccoons generally need to be nursed for four months before they can be released into the wild.

“The first six weeks are spent maintaining a feeding schedule that mimics a nursing mother,” Merrick said. “Of course, a special formula is used that is meant to replace a raccoon mother’s milk. Add this on to the other wild orphans in our care — deer fawns, mallards, opossums, skunks, swallows, and more — and our expense really start to climb at this time of year.”

Read more about how you can help by reading this message from the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center below:

 

Currently Bird Ally X/Humboldt Wildlife Care Center, in Bayside, has 16 orphaned Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in care.

In most cases, raccoon orphans are created by someone trapping and killing their mother. Mother raccoons who have selected a den site inside a human-built structure, such as a crawlspace or an attic. The small area between a bathtub and wall, accessible only from below is a favored location. Even if a predator knew there was a meal in there, none would confront a mother defending her young in such a confined space. It’s very safe, except from people.

Trapping and relocating any adult wild animal is against the law, trapping and killing must be done with permission form California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In almost all instances, lethal solutions to a conflict with a wild animal are unnecessary, ineffective and, especially in spring and summer when babies are depending on their parents for survival, cruel and inhumane. BAX/HWCC offers consultation and help dealing with conflicts with wild animals. We’re just a phone call away. (707) 822-8839

 

BAX/HWCC is the only permitted all-species wild rehabilitation facility between Laytonville and Oregon border and east to Redding. Four of our raccoon patients were sent to us from a wildlife rehabilitator in Fort Bragg who doesn’t have housing adequate to raise them until they’re ready for release. 

Typically, it takes four months for an orphaned raccoon to be old enough to release back to wild freedom. The first six weeks are spent maintaining a feeding schedule that mimics a nursing mother. Of course, a special formula is used that is meant to replace a raccoon mother’s milk. Add this on to the other wild orphans in our care - deer fawns, mallards, opossums, skunks, swallows, and more - and our expense really start to climb at this time of year.

After weaning, raccoons are housed an as natural an environment as we can provide that also protects them from predators. Our housing also keeps them separated from people including our own staff, so that their wildness is also respected and protected. Familiarity with humans can be a death sentence for wild animals. Some human beings aren’t very decent at all.

Our funding comes solely from community support. If anyone wishes to help us help injured and orphaned wildlife, please go to www.birdallyx.net and use the donate function.

Also, volunteers are always welcomed. Anyone wishing to get hands on helping return injured and orphaned animals to the wild can go to our website and apply.

Orientations are offered monthly. We also can use summer squash, goat milk, baking soda, and white vinegar. Financial support is critical. Any and every donation helps.