Raccoons, Bats, Fox + Bobcats, Oh My

It has been a very long time coming for North Carolina, but the Wildlife Resources Commission in Raleigh recently authorized our state’s wildlife rehabilitators to medically treat and rehabilitate raccoons, bats, fox and bobcats (and oh yes, skunks—but we just don’t have skunks on the coast).

BIG EXCITING NEWS This is very big news and in turn, calls for some big changes for individual wildlife rehabilitators and all wildlife shelters across the state. North Carolina Wildlife rehabilitators have been scrambling since last fall to meet the eligibility criteria set forth by the commission to achieve this special permit from the state. Not all rehabilitators will choose to take this path, but some will, and we won’t have to turn these animals away when they are injured or orphaned as we were required to do in the past.

THERE ARE RISKS There is a risk associated with working with these species because within this group a slight possibility to carry the rabies virus exists. Most of these animals do not harbor the disease, but we must err on the side of caution and be very, very careful. Wildlife rehabilitators working with these animals are required to take the rabies vaccine series and routinely have their blood checked for rabies antibodies.

BE CAREFUL! The public must be very, very careful, too, when coming across an orphaned, sick or injured raccoon, bat, fox or bobcat. Do not touch any of these animals with your bare hands. Besides bare hands, other circumstances that are not safe for you

Raccoons, Bats, Fox + Bobcats, Oh My!

would be if the sick or injured animal is still alert in your presence, can still move around or is located in an area unsafe for rescue such as in the middle of the road. Please call your local animal control officer or a wildlife rehabilitator in your area for assistance.

Also, if a wildlife rehabilitator or someone from animal control is not on site, do not attempt rescue if any raccoon, bat, fox or bobcat is displaying abnormal behavior. Keep children and pets away from the animal and alert animal control. If any of those animals are roughly two-thirds the size of an adult and subsequently weaned from their mother, they are considered adult by law. So, you are not rescuing an orphan.

If you find young raccoons are nesting in your attic, locate the nest site and place a small radio nearby and leave it on around the clock. The constant noise bothers the animals when they want to sleep, causing the mother to move her young to another, quieter location, which will hopefully be out of your house. When you are sure all the babies are gone, find the entry location and patch it to prevent them from coming back or another creature from moving in. If a professional resource is not available and the animal needs immediate assistance, you may rescue only if it is safe to do so.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Please follow these safety precautions. ① First, have a sturdy box or animal carrier ready to contain the animal. Garbage cans, recycling bins and plastic containers will work in a pinch, depending on the size of the animal. Make sure you have a lid that will fit securely on the box or container. ② Secondly, protect yourself by wearing thick leather gloves and have a heavy towel

in hand to prevent getting bitten, licked or scratched. Avoiding direct contact with the animal is essential during rescue because most wildlife have sharp teeth and claws and will muster whatever strength they have left to try to protect themselves from you, even though you are trying to help them – they don’t know that. A thick pair of work gloves, a thick jacket and other personal protection can prevent injury. Do not ever use bare hands when helping these specific mammals. Approach the animal from behind, drop the towel over the animal, including the head, quickly gather the animal in the towel, then immediately place into the container. Cover and seal the box to ensure the animal cannot escape. ③ Lastly, transport the animal to a wildlife rehabilitator without looking or even peeking at the animal again or removing the animal from its enclosure during transport. Do not allow someone to hold the animal during transport, even wrapped in a towel, and keep the car quiet, which means no loud talking and turn your radio off.

DON’T FEED Do not worry about feeding them. The concerns for animals at the time of rescue are focused on injury or sickness. Please allow the wildlife rehabilitator to stabilize the animal and food will come later. The rehabber will know how to feed them based on their condition and what to feed them based on the dietary requirements for their species. This includes infants. Do not feed them. If you don’t have the skills needed to appropriately feed a wild baby, you may unknowingly force food or water into their lungs which will cause pneumonia or you might provide an improper diet that can kill the baby. Tell the wildlife rehabilitator the location

where the animal(s) were found, including street address or nearest crossroads with a description of the area. We try to release most animals close to their site of origin. Yes, there are a lot of don’ts when trying to help Raccoons, Bats, Fox and Bobcats, so we all, especially the public, who are usually not protected medically when handling these animals, must take extreme precaution.

HERE’S THE DO LIST However, here are a few do’s when it comes to rescuing this category of wildlife. Do rescue any bat found on the ground by placing it with your gloved hand in a secure box and transport to a wildlife rehabilitator.

Rescue any fox baby, called a kit or cub, found abandoned and cold, but take note, foxes have multiple dens and may be in the process of moving their litter. A lone kit that appears abandoned may be the last to be moved. Give the parents time to retrieve the kit before intervening. Rescue any kit with visible injuries. Do rescue baby raccoons, also called kits or cubs, that were attacked by another animal, especially a cat, hit by a car or moving equipment and any kits that are pestered by flies and/or ants. If a young raccoon appears distressed, check for injuries and from a safe distance, watch to see if the mother retrieves the young before intervening. Always keep your rescue animal warm and quiet and remember the bottom and most crucial line is, get the animal to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator immediately.

Although tempting, because wildlife babies are so cute, raising a wild animal in captivity is illegal unless you have the proper state or federal permit.

WE CAN DO IT! Authorization to finally treat these animals has been a very long time coming but OH MY! We can do this thing and we must all do it in a fully knowledgeable, conscientious and safe manner. Please call the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter in Newport at 252-240-1200 if you have concerns or questions regarding raccoons, bats, fox or bobcats and find out how this new authorization to rehabilitate these specific species will apply to their rescue. €

ABOUT OWLS

TAKE A TOUR of the facility at 100 Wildlife Way in Newport. To volunteer, call 252-240- 1200. If your organization would like to learn more about wildlife, our education animals jump at the chance!