Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Northern Raccoon

Please let this be your reminder to thoroughly rinse out used cans, jars, and other food containers before recycling them!

This juvenile Northern Raccoon was transported to us early Monday morning with her head completely stuck inside a can of spaghetti and meatballs, with plenty of leftover sauce still inside.

Fortunately, this youngster was found by someone who cared enough to help.

We were able to sedate her, carefully cut the can away, and, after making sure she was otherwise healthy, return her to the found location later that same day.

Unfortunately, situations like this are not uncommon, and many animals are not lucky enough to be found in time.

Even if your recyclables go directly into a well-secured bin, you don’t necessarily know what happens to them after they’re picked up.

Cans and containers can fall from trash or recycling trucks, larger receptacles may not be adequately covered, and discarded food containers can end up in places where wildlife can access them.

Raccoons and other wild animals are incredibly resourceful when searching for food.

A container that still smells like spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, yogurt, or another tasty meal can be irresistible.

Once an animal pushes its head inside, though, it may not be able to get back out. That can quickly lead to injury, dehydration, overheating, suffocation, or death.

The easiest way to prevent an incident like this? Rinse your recyclables.

Don’t give hungry wildlife a reason to stick their heads into your Chef Boyardee cans. A few seconds at the sink can prevent a very dangerous situation for a wild neighbor.

Luckily, this girl was back at her found location later that day, sans can and hopefully a little wiser.

Looking for an easy way to help native wildlife? Become a monthly BRWC donor! For as little as $5/month, you can provide year-round, sustainable support that helps us fulfill our mission.