Mothers leave kits alone. That is normal.
A female raccoon forages for hours at night and moves her litter between dens, one kit at a time. A single kit in your yard, under your deck, or on your porch at dusk is very often a kit whose mother is on her way back. Taking it in means that kit is raised by people, which is worse for it than being raised by her.
When to call us right away
- The kit is bleeding, limping, cold to the touch, or has flies around it.
- Its eyes are closed and it has been alone and crying for more than a few hours.
- A cat or dog has had it in its mouth, even without visible injury.
- You know the mother is dead, for example a female was hit on the road nearby.
Call (000) 000-0000. Do not feed it. Do not give it water. Put it in a box with a towel somewhere warm, dark, and quiet, and wait for us.
When to wait and watch
If the kit is warm, dry, uninjured, and quiet, leave it where it is or put it in an open box at the base of the nearest tree or wall. Keep pets and children inside. Watch from a window after dark. If the mother has not collected it by morning, call us and we will talk you through the next step, which may still be a reunion attempt with a warming box and a camera rather than an admission.
Last year 14 kits went home with their mothers because the person who found them called first and picked them up second. This year we would like that number to be higher. Devon Hale, Field Response Lead
What not to do
- Do not give cow's milk, pet food, or anything else. Kits aspirate easily and the wrong formula can be fatal.
- Do not handle it with bare hands. Raccoons can carry roundworm and, rarely, rabies. Use gloves or a towel.
- Do not keep it "for a few days." It is illegal in Oregon without a permit, and every day with people makes release harder.
The full guidance, including what to do about adults, is on our Found a raccoon? page.