{
  "id": 9206680,
  "title": "Orphaned Baby Raccoons Learn to Fish, Swim, and Climb at Survival Boot Camp Before Returning to the Wild",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/orphaned-baby-raccoons-learn-to-fish-swim-and-climb-at-survival-boot",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-22T21:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discover Magazine",
    "slug": "discover-magazine",
    "url": "https://www.discovermagazine.com/orphaned-baby-raccoons-learn-to-fish-swim-and-climb-at-survival-boot-camp-before-returning-to-the-wild-49711"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [
    "Orphaned raccoons learn survival skills at Woodside Wildlife Rescue",
    "Boot camp-style training includes hunting, swimming, and predator avoidance",
    "Rescued raccoons released back into wild after rehabilitation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}