Finding an orphaned baby raccoon requires caution and immediate professional consultation. Laws often prohibit the possession and feeding of wild animals without a license, so contact a wildlife rehabilitator before offering any sustenance. Providing the wrong food or care can lead to severe health consequences due to the complexity of their nutritional needs. This guide details appropriate feeding practices, but they should only be implemented under the direction of a licensed expert.
Immediate Steps and Professional Guidance
Finding a licensed wildlife rehabilitator is the first and most immediate action upon discovering a baby raccoon. These professionals possess the necessary permits and expertise to provide specialized care and can advise on legal steps. In the interim, the baby’s body temperature and hydration status are more important than food.
A baby raccoon that is cold or has been without its mother is likely dehydrated and cannot properly digest formula. Before administering milk replacer, the animal must be thoroughly warmed, often using a heating pad set on low beneath half of the enclosure. Once warm, a warmed electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte, must be offered for several feedings to restore hydration. This ensures the baby’s internal systems are prepared to process nutrients, as giving milk to a cold or dehydrated neonate can cause fatal diarrhea or bloat.
Formula Feeding Based on Age
Selecting the correct milk replacer is important, as a baby raccoon’s nutritional requirements are distinct from domestic animals. Cow’s milk, goat’s milk, or human baby formula are unsuitable because they lack the necessary fat and protein balance and can cause severe digestive upset, dehydration, and death. The ideal nutritional profile is found in commercial products like Fox Valley Day One Formula for Raccoons (40/25) or high-quality kitten milk replacers (KMR), which closely substitute a mother raccoon’s milk.
The formula powder must be mixed precisely with warm water according to the manufacturer’s instructions, often at a 1:2 ratio of powder to water, and fed at body temperature. For the first few feedings, full-strength formula should be gradually introduced by mixing it with the rehydration solution to allow the digestive system to adjust. Raccoons under eight weeks of age require formula feedings every three to six hours. The amount given should be calculated based on the baby’s body weight to prevent overfeeding.
Feeding technique is as important as the formula composition. Baby raccoons must be held upright or on their belly, never on their back like a human infant. Neonates are typically fed using a small syringe or a specialized pet nurser bottle with a preemie-sized nipple. This method controls the liquid flow and reduces the risk of aspiration, which occurs when formula enters the lungs and can lead to fatal pneumonia.
Introducing Solid Foods and Weaning
Weaning begins when the baby raccoon is around six to eight weeks old and their teeth start to emerge, often indicated by chewing on the bottle nipple. This transition must be gradual, as they rely on formula for primary nutrition until about three months of age. The first step involves mixing a small amount of finely crushed, high-quality puppy kibble into the milk replacer to create a thin gruel.
As the weeks progress, the amount of formula is slowly reduced while the solid food mixture is thickened, moving toward a mushy paste. Transitional foods include softened puppy kibble, cooked eggs, soft fruits like bananas, and mashed vegetables, which can be offered in a shallow dish. By 10 to 12 weeks of age, the raccoon should be completely weaned and consuming a varied diet of solid foods.
Harmful Foods and Feeding Mistakes
Several common household foods are toxic or dangerous for baby raccoons and must be avoided. Foods containing theobromine, such as chocolate and cocoa products, can cause nervous system distress and heart problems. Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin called persin that can induce vomiting, diarrhea, and heart damage.
Onions, garlic, and other allium vegetables contain compounds that can damage red blood cells, potentially leading to hemolytic anemia. Improper feeding practices, particularly aspiration, are a significant danger, occurring when liquid is administered too quickly or while the baby is on its back. Mixing powdered formula incorrectly (too concentrated or too diluted) results in severe dehydration or malnutrition, both life-threatening conditions.