My Saturday project. Coon Rescue.

[Concours.John]

We had a critter living in our chimney. It hasn`t been back in a few days. Good...... no. Today there was horrendous screaming coming from it. I look down the flew and saw a baby. Knowing the mama hasn`t been around we feared the worst.
After several hours of attempts the only option was a complete tear down of the damper system.
Once done I reach in and recover this







I ve worked with a Racoon rescue for 10 years. These guys are about 16 to 18 days old. They needed a complete bath to clear their nostrils and mouths of soot. The rescue comes tomorrow. Well be hydrating and feeding them till then. They are very weak.

I don`t endorse anyone doing this. If you feed them wrong or don`t know how to digest them you could kill them. There are also sanitary rules to follow.
After seeing their condition we know for sure something happened to mom. They are so far lucky they need to be fed every six hours minimum.

Note: I edited the original age from the original post. I didn`t catch my error. They are very young.

[BobbyG]

John,

This is a really cool thread and I can`t wait to hear and see more as they grow....

[ca.detailchick]

I love racoons !

God bless you for saving the babies! I hope they live and thrive!

[Todd@RUPES]

Nice turnaround, I`ll be looking for the before and after pics!

[mrclean81]

Thats very good of you John. Most people would have left them or killed them. As much as it angers me when coons get in my dumpster and drag trash all over my yard, I cant help but like them

[Stokdgs]

Wow, so they got on the ledge behind the flue damper itself so when you raised it up you covered them up, right?
There would be no possible way I can think of to get them out either except to remove your damper assembly- great job !!

They sure are beautiful when young and when they grow up, but they can get so invasive when they are hungry. They have these little hands that are so adept at doing most anything. Dont want to get one cornered and ticked off at you either.

Dan F

[LegacyGT]

Very cool, if they had to choose someone`s house to get stuck in, it was a good thing it was yours.

Keep us updated with pictures

[Concours.John]

I`ll be taking a video to post. They are perking up a little. You can`t feed them lambs milk until they are hydrated. We have to feed them Pediatric Electrolyte each hour and damp towel assist their bowls. This is going to be a long night. They cant digest even a seragate mothers milk till they are hydrated. They will go to a rescue sanctuary tomorrow.

It`s funny they are each starting to show their own personality as they get their energy.

1 boy - screamer
1 girl - chatterbox
1 girl - coos

[Old Pirate]

Got a few of them running around my area.

[BobbyG]

John,

I`m really glad you found these little tykes and agree with you, something`s happened to mom. I`ve always wondered how you`d take care of animals that young and not domesticated. I`ll bet they were hungry when you found them...

Looking forward to the education and watching these critters grow!

[Concours.John]

UPDATE....
We just returned from dropping our little friends off. They are now in the hands of a licensed care giver. They will be released in August.
We are allowed to visit during and at the release.

They will live in their own wild sanctuary with others in the end away from people.

She named two after us. Pics to come of our long 48 + hours

[Todd@RUPES]

UPDATE....
We just returned from dropping our little friends off. They are now in the hands of a licensed care giver. They will be released in August.
We are allowed to visit during and at the release.

They will live in their own wild sanctuary with others in the end away from people.

She named two after us. Pics to come of our long 48 + hours

Looking forward to the pics John!

[embolism]

what an awesome story!

I was having a bad day but you just made my afternoon a little brighter...

thanks

[Concours.John]

UPDATE 3/22/12

Here are some better pictures.

This was during the time we had them. When feeding the trick was to get them familiar with a bottle. We spent the evening late into the night and morning hydrating them with pedialyte now was time for goats milk. You have to get them elevated so they don`t get fluid into their lungs once they accept it.





Some other pics.





I love this picture. This one was named by their new keeper after my wife. She was soo soft.



Sleeping arrangements w/ heating pad. They loved their hats and would go back to their own quickly after eating.







This is how they are today two have their eyes opened the boy is getting fat. (he looks fatter because he is on his back curled)
They about 21 days old and grow weekly. We get daily pictures.







It was bitter sweet to let the go to someone else but she is a licensed pro. Having something rely on you so much yoou get attached quickly. May go to see them this weekend. Its going to be hard to watch them released following them growing up.

[mc2hill]

Way cool John!