Baby raccoons found in a Cape Cod fireplace were reunited with their mom thanks to help from the Cape Wildlife Center.
On Sunday, the rescue team went to help humanely evict a mom raccoon and her babies from a man’s chimney. The babies had fallen down into the fireplace but mom was staying hidden in the chimney.
“Our rescue team checked out babies to make sure they had not incurred any injuries and found them to be healthy and well hydrated indicating they have not been separated from mom long,” the rescue center wrote on Facebook.
They moved the babies outside in a carrier near the chimney using a mask, gloves and a protective suit.
“To encourage mom to leave on her own we suggested the homeowner shine bright lights up into the chimney and play loud music to encourage her to find a new safer spot for her babies,” the rescue wrote.
They used a trail cam to monitor the babies overnight.
The mom raccoon eventually left the chimney and took two separate trips to relocate her babies to a new spot. The rescue also shared photos from the rescue and trail cam.
“This is a very common scenario this time of year with animal moms of all species trying to find locations to use as nests and dens,” the rescue wrote. “Using techniques to encourage mom to move her babies on her own is the best way to ensure the family stays together. Depending on how many babies she has it may take her several trips/ nights to relocate all of them so please give her plenty of time before thinking they may have been abandoned. Mom raccoons are VERY protective and devoted to their babies so usually will come back for them.”
They encouraged people in similar situations to give them a call or locate your local rehabilitator.
