Orphaned Baby Raccoons Learn to Fish, Swim, and Climb at Survival Boot Camp Before Returning to the Wild
Learn how volunteers nurse back raccoon kits that lost their mothers and teach them how to hunt, swim, and protect themselves by showing them directly.
Abandoned raccoon kits are receiving a head start in life at Woodside Wildlife Rescue in Pass Christian, Mississippi, thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers. After losing their mothers through natural disasters or accidents, these orphaned raccoons are given hands-on lessons in survival skills, including hunting, swimming, and avoiding predators.
This boot camp-style training takes place at a 20-acre rural property that offers ample opportunities for the young raccoons to learn. The facility also provides medical care for sick and injured animals, and the rescued raccoons ultimately undergo a release ceremony before being returned to the wild. The Woodside Wildlife Rescue, founded in 2019, follows scientifically proven protocols to ensure the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of these animals into their natural habitat.
While raccoons are not the only species receiving aid, the organization also supports a variety of other native animals, including birds, squirrels, foxes, and bats.
Written by urgent.news from Discover Magazine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
