Rescuers Save Raccoon Stuck in Storm Drain

Bourne, Massachusetts – A team of dedicated rescuers saved a raccoon who got stuck in a storm drain earlier this month. According to the Cape Wildlife Center, the young raccoon somehow got his head stuck in the drain’s gate and he was completely unable to escape on his own.

In a social media post, the wildlife agency said:

Our veterinary staff was actively dealing with three other emergencies that had come into the cape hospital so were unfortunately not able to go out and sedate the raccoon on scene to help get him out, so instead Bourne Department of Natural Resources, Bourne Fire/Rescue & Emergency Services, Bourne Police Department, and Bourne Department of Public Works collaborated to get the entire drain grate and raccoon transported to us as one.

Rescuers pulled the grate up and worked with canola oil to help free the raccoon’s head.

Though the raccoon was exhausted, and dehydrated, it appeared that he would recover from the harrowing ordeal. The agency said:

Our vet team gave him a full exam, rehydrating fluids and meds to reduce any tissue inflammation before reversing the sedatives to wake him up. As he was coming to he started to move around and we could see he was able to move all his limbs and neck appropriately!

The raccoon will be kept for monitoring to ensure that he is in good condition before being released into the wild.

Great work rescuers!!

Find Cape Wildlife Center on Facebook at this link.