Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Bye bye raccoons!

Today Linda from the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary came to our farm to release seven rehabilitated raccoons!


THere were four in one cage and three in the other. Linda drove her van all the way down our grassy "cow lane" to the wood lot, near the Beaudette River. We took the cages out of the back of the van. Linda opened them up, and we stood back and watched the youngsters fly free...



...or waddle free, as the case may be! They didn't exactly hurtle off into the trees. They took their own sweet time about moving on.


One intrepid soul ventured forth...



...and another follower along, heading towards the river.



Some of the others stuck around a little longer, snacking and checking things out.



Adorable, are they not? And fluffy and healthy!



Bye bye, raccoons! Good luck in the wild.


Linda's van did an excellent job of off-roading.

The Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a registered charity and is funded solely by donations. They can use your help! Please consider sending them a donation, and/or becoming a member. You'll find all the info you need right here.  They have lots of cute pictures on their website and Facebook page.

We're hoping to have more releases here in the future!

27 comments:

  1. I wish I could do this with the badgers that invade my field... but I cannot by law! bugger!!!

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    1. We have various laws about animals. The place these guys came from is run by a licensed rehabber; I don't think you're supposed to move animals around unless you're licensed, but people do it anyway. Around there, the farmers just shoot the animals they find to be a nuisance. :(

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  2. Interesting about releases. Here they find a mother raccoon and foster them It works very well for all species except one. Ducks and geese are a hoot. Just throw them on the pond. It doesn't matter what species. Deer will pick up a fawn instantly. Some of these little guys thrown into the wild don't cope that well. Good to see somebody trying to make a difference.

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    1. THat's fascinating, I didn't know a deer would take on any fawn. Love those sweet deer! Yes, this place does good work but of course is always facing funding issues, since they run on donations. Helps that they're a registered charity!

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  3. Any chance they will find your house and, in time, be sportin' names?

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  4. How adorable. We have a mama that usually has 4 or 5 babies each year. I love seeing them cross through our yard to head for the pond. Nature in balance always makes me smile.

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    1. The babies are SO cute!! We usually have a mama and her babies in our barn each year. She takes them right up onto the incredibly high ceiling beams! They never cause any trouble, and leave in early spring, so we let them be. We don't have any animals in the upstairs barn anyway.

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  5. They look really healthy; someone's done a very good job!

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    1. I thought they were fat and glossy and ready for the cold weather!

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  6. They are really really cute and I hope they enjoy their new found freedom. Good luck to them. I hope we get to see them from time to time:))

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    1. If I ever run into one, I'll let you know! I rarely see them, though, except trying to cross the road at night!

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  7. They are lovely and I hope they will enjoy their lives in freedom.

    Hugs

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  8. They are lovely, but will they come back and be a threat to your birds? I do have trouble with nature sometimes!

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    1. We already have MANY raccoons around here, and I've never had an issue with them and our birds. The birds are locked up in predator-proof enclosures at night. My real problems have been with a fox, who seems to have moved on for now!

      Definitely no raccoon shortage around here! Seven more probably won't even make a dent!

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  9. Beautiful creatures. Here's hoping they enjoy a wonderful and safe life in your neighbourhood.

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    1. I just think they are so darn cute.

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  10. Anonymous11:48 am

    Very cute critters, but they are also very opportunistic. Just make sure your feed (especially cat and dog food) is in raccoon-proof containers or buildings. They are good climbers and are quite capable of prying off lids.

    Janet

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    1. Not to worry, all our feed is in metal garbage cans with locking lids in the barn! Our actual trash cans are also raccoon-proof! THe last place I lived, I would find raccoons inside my platform birdfeeder! (It has a roof!)

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  11. Such a fluffy looking gang!

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  12. Ahhh. When I saw the title, I thought you had maybe had some troublesome coons trapped. Releasing rehabilitated youngsters! Woot! Good for you! We raised 3 orphans over the years and I have a real soft spot for raccoons. Such charming, clever animals, such beautiful hands. If they're not in your attic, anyway.

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    1. Yes, I don't want them in my house, but I don't mind them around the farm! I love watching them, but I don't see many in daylight these days.

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  13. It's a pretty nice place for them to be released! They are well back from the road, which helps! :)

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  14. I'm glad you were able to help the four babies! THey were lucky to have you after your stupid neighbour's actions. :(

    We are always happy to share our farm with wildlife. The ducks and chickens have secure enclosures so I don't worry about that. The problem with the ducks and chickens is when they decide to go over the fence, and there's a fox in the neighbourhood! But at night they are all securely locked in. So far, no raccoon problems (knock wood!)

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  15. Yes!! I was just hoping they'd do well, but it's a big bad world out there. But they looked happy to be free, if a little confused at first.

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Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!