While traveling through a midwestern state, a family from Texas encountered this baby (six week old) raccoon standing over the body of her dead mother. The mother raccoon and a sibling to this animal had just been killed by an automobile. The well-meaning family took the animal into their automobile and brought it back to Texas where they began raising it as a family pet.

When local wildlife officials learned of the animal they had it confiscated and turned over to Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife Rescue. The Good Samaritans were advised that they could be in deep trouble:

• They had violated the law of the animal's state of origin by removing it from that state without permission.
• They had violated Texas law by bringing it into the state without permission.
• They had violated Federal Law by crossing a state line with illegally acquired wildlife.
• They had, potentially, exposed their entire family to diseases such as rabies.

It is hoped that the animal can be once again adapted to an existence in the wild and released. She is currently undergoing preparation, along with a classmate about the same age, for life in the wild. Once ready, the pair will be flown to an isolated area by helicopter and set free.

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Little Pache (from the Spanish mapache for raccoon) was found cold and abandoned in a rural suburban area of El Paso. He was immediately taken to a veterinary clinic. From the clinic he was transferred to CDWR. He was about 2 weeks old and still had his eyes closed. As he was born so late in the summer, he will not be a suitable candidate for release this year before winter sets in.

Sept. 9, 1998. Pache is now about 8 weeks old but is unable to walk normally. He should have been walking at about two weeks. A veterinarian has diagnosed Pache with spinal cord damage, probably congenital, and prescribed an anti-inflamatory drug. Pache's rear legs do function to an extent but he seems to have little control over them. He tends to crawl using his front legs and just lets his hindquarters drag. He has no feeling at all in his hind quarters.

Sept. 18, 1998. We have sad news to report. Because of his paralysis Pache never developed the ability to urinate without human intervention. This is a skill he should have acquired at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Yesterday the situation got worse when he lost the ability to urinate even with assistance. This morning things had not changed and it was apparent that Pache was suffering a bladder disorder. Pache was humanely put to sleep by a veterinarian.

If you encounter an orphaned or apparently abandoned animal never attempt to capture it. Call law enforcement officials and notify them of the animal's location. Raccoons, as well as other wild animals, can carry the deadly rabies virus. They may have immunity to developing the disease but can infect humans who come in contact with the animal.

You could also, as the above family found out, be in serious trouble with the law.