Hurt raccoon in my backyard . . .?

Question

There's this HUGE raccoon who lives in my backyard. I just noticed today that he's limping. He's not using his back left leg at all. He can't even climb up the trees with the other raccoons. I don't know what to do!!!

Do I call the DNR??? I don't want them to kill him.

Who do I call that would help him heal and not kill him???

Answer 1

I would say the easy answer is animal control...but as for the not killing the racoon part they very well might. Ask around your neighborhood...or since I supposed you are in a wooded area ask at a neiighborhood center to see if anyone like veternarians do wild animal rescue on the side. Unless you are one of those people don't try to come near it and try to help it, despite your good intentions the raccon may hurt you. Good luck.

Answer 2

He needs help one way or the other.  He is suffering.

Answer 3

It sounds like a dog or bear or cougar got him.  you can ask around at the vets, but

probably he would be better put to sleep.

His leg won't heal straight by itself and he

will always be at the mercy of a larger animal.

Answer 4

Barbecue yami

Answer 5

You could try finding a wildlife agency.  Usually the wildlife agencies don't kill the animals and take in injured animals and keep them in a wild life like area (still sort of under capitivity, but only until they heal up) then release them back in the wild.  I know in my area, we have an agency that does that.  I would avoid calling animal control as they may kill the raccoon.  Here is a website of contact info for injured wildlife and how to get help for them.

Answer 6

They do a pretty good job of healing naturally if they're safe from predators.  If you really don't want animal control to take him, just see that he has water, and watch him.  Feeding him is probably not a good idea.  If you must, stick to fruit, and don't use a dish...just throw it out and let him find it.  Likewise, don't try to touch or handle him.  If you see signs of infection (looks worse, bad smell, swelling) then you do need to call animal control.  If he does well, one day you'll look out and he'll be gone, and you'll know you helped.

Answer 7

Let nature take its course.  He will either heal up, or die.

Tuba boy, raccoons are preditors, that means they eat meat, not fruit.  I would never feed a raccoon, they are really pests and I don't want them around, but if you must, use dog food.  They are also a primary vector for rabies.  In fact, if you see a coon out in the day, you can be pretty sure it's rabid.

Answer 8

I sounds like he is doing fine.  Even though he may "need" vet care the trauma of catching it may kill it.  In general, wildlife should be left alone.  All raccoons die.  It's never pretty when animals die naturally.