Source
r/WildlifeRehab•
Filmcricket

Advice: raccoon has a large fishing lure(?) hooked on its mouth.

SOS Mammal

I’ve been staying at my mom’s in southern NY state (25-30 miles outside of nyc) and feed two feral cats here daily. Some days they don’t show up and a raccoon and its skunk buddy do instead and eat, but today’s the first I’ve seen the wildlife pair in 3 days.

From a distance, it looked like a giant leaf was dangling from the raccoon’s mouth. When I stepped outside, I could hear it clanking as he/she moves.

It resembles this. About 3-4 inches in total and very weighty, but luckily it seems to only be hooked through its upper lip on one side and it’s able to move and eat perfectly fine.

Is there anything that can be done? Or someone I can call? Or..? I feel so badly for it and super pissed at whatever neighbor left their fishing gear out like that.

Has anyone ever encountered this before?

If so, is it possible it’ll just rip out (not ideal but..) or fall apart considering how the raccoon is letting it smack wherever as to not impede its movement?

Other than that, it doesn’t seem to be acting any differently than usual and, again, it’s eating perfectly fine.

Thanks in advance for any help (or comfort..)

Posted Jul 2, 2021, 7:17 AM UTC

410
Psychological-Rub-72•

Definitely contact wild life rescue, the DEC, or the sheriff.

The should lend you a Havahart trap.

Once it is captured they will help it.

The hook just needs to be cut and maybe some antibiotics.

3
FilmcricketOP•

Thank you so much. I was considering contacting police last night to see if they had any resources for this sort of thing, but didn’t want them getting all hung ho about handling it themselves, you know, by shooting the poor beastie.

1
Psychological-Rub-72•

I understand. Up in Ulster we can call the DEC or local police.

1
Snoo97354•

Raccoons (and skunks) are rabies vector species in New York State. Whatever you do, do not touch the raccoon or the Department of Health will likely require it to be tested for rabies which will mean euthanasia. New York State does not fuck around when it comes to rabies!

That said, there is very possibly an RVS licensed rehabber in your county who can trap and help this raccoon! The NYS DEC has a list of rehabbers on their website by county:

https://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/sls_searches/index.cfm?p=live_rehab

Lastly, I urge you to consider not feeding feral cats (and consequently wildlife). Bringing animals like raccoons and skunks into close proximity (and sharing a food dish) is how diseases like distemper can spread among wildlife. Distemper is taking a terrible toll on raccoons and skunks in New York State. It’s also better for wild animals to not get used to eating pet food, as developing a taste for pet food can lead to conflict with people (which usually doesn’t end well for the animals). At the very least, consider feeding the cats at a specific time each day and then removing the food so that the wildlife doesn’t have access to it.

2
FilmcricketOP•

Thanks for all this info. Definitely not going anywhere near the raccoon myself!

Regarding the ferals, you’re right. I didn’t know distemper was raging so badly here :( I neglected to take into account that, unlike the ferals in my neighborhood in the city, these two afaik aren’t receiving vaccines or vet treatment from feral cat programs. I fucked up.

I’d purchased a multi level feral cat shelter that has an entrance and escape “hatch” cats can fit through, but raccoons can’t (same model as the ones behind my apartment which the raccoons there cannot seem to access) and will stop putting off assembling it, move the food to inside the shelter and tune up the schedule so I can remove the food after it’s been eaten.

Thanks again for the info.

2
diabirdfranceRehabber•

Hello ! He definitely needs help. Call your local wildlife rehab center / wildlife organization to see if they can take him in and assist you for the capture. Thank you for caring.

1
FilmcricketOP•

Thanks so much for the info!

1
LBbird24•

Try the app Animal Help Now. It gives you local wildlife help organizations and their info. Thanks for helping her out.

1
FilmcricketOP•

I had no idea there was an app! Thanks for the suggestion!

2
Equivalent_Edge_6281•

Poor thing.

1