Raccoon in Watery Prison: Watch His Rescued Bliss

Written by MaryEllen Schoeman of California

Let’s be clear: raccoons do not make good pets. In the hands of anyone other than an experienced owner with the background, education and equipment to meet their needs, they suffer. This is the story of one such raccoon and his rescue….

When authorities arrived at a marina to impound a boat overflowing with garbage and posing a health hazard to the area, they were shocked at something they found in the under-deck cabin of the boat – an adult raccoon locked in 2 by 2 foot cage, with feces and rotten food six inches deep on the cage floor.

Appalled, they called Mary Cummins, of Animal Advocates. When she arrived on the scene, they discovered that the door of the cage was sealed shut with encrusted filth and rust. Equipped with bolt cutters and determination, the team cut through the door and moved the raccoon into a carrier. Soon, the owner of the raccoon appeared. He told an all-too-familiar tale of finding a cute baby raccoon, taking it home and discovering that as an adult the animal was too difficult to manage. This ‘owner’ had responded by locking the raccoon in the small cage and not letting him out for four years.

Mary rushed the raccoon to the vet where they determined that he was 80% blind due to poor nutrition, no sunlight and fumes from the accumulated feces and urine. She then turned him over to me, also a rehabilitator, for evaluation for eventual release. I soon found that due to his blindness and other issues caused by his long captivity, a life in the wild would not possible for him.

I named him Harbor, and quickly found that despite his hardships, he was a sweet and gentle soul. His yearning for contact and attention was palpable. After a few days and a few baths and lots of love and reassurance, I released him into a large enclosure that I had custom-bult for him. This is what happened.

I was astounded, and continue to be, at his utterly incredible capacity for joy. He plays, ecstatically, with anything at hand, and accepts everything that comes into his life with an open heart. I have worked with raccoons for many years, and I can honestly say that I have never encountered one who greets each day with such happiness, and who loves so fully and so deeply. He loves his pool, his toys and every single person he meets.

I have learned from Harbor, as well. I have learned that it is possible to come from a place of unimaginable darkness and despair, and still move forward into a life of joy and love; that we do not have to carry our darkness with us, and that every day is a gift.

Brought to you by The Great Animal Rescue Chase. Have you visited our site lately?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Kristy C.

1:15PM PDT on May 14, 2012

MARY ELLEN, WOULD LOVE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU, I WORK WITH ANIMAL REHAB HERE TOO, I AM THE PERSON THAT WROTE YOU THAT I ALSO HAD A ADULT MALE RACCOON. YOU WROTE BACK AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE WORMING AND PARASITES, I DO HAVE A EXOTIC VET HE GETS SHOTS AND WORMING REGULARLY. PRETTY AWESOME ANIMALS! I LOVE IT, JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE PURCHASED THIS GUY BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO TRAIN A COON DOG AND OF COURSE I COULDN'T HAVE THAT. SO HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN MY HOUSE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW, SLEEPS WITH US AND THE WHOLE THING. I HAVE A SMALL ONE NOW I AM BOTTLE FEEDING THEN IT GOES TO A LADY TO TEACH AND RELEASE.
LOVE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU, KRISTY

send a green star

Christine S.

9:47PM PDT on Mar 11, 2012

After a rough hour signing petitions against animal cruelty, I had to stop by and watch "Harbor" play in his pool- I needed that big smile that he brought to my face!

Lilly M.

1:34PM PST on Mar 2, 2012

For Kristy....Please be very careful having an adult raccoon indoors. They do have a parasite in the feces that can be dangerous to humans...particularly children. Most states also have regulations that prohibit keeping wildlife. I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and specialize in raccoons. From the time I receive my infants I keep them on a strict worming schedule for the parasites. I certainly don't want to fault you for saving the raccoon and giving him a good life, however, please be aware of the downside of keeping a wild animal. Your protection and staying legal is of the utmost importance.

1:17PM PST on Mar 2, 2012

totally unreal, people like that ought to get the same treatment. i have a raccoon and he actually lives in our house, sleeps with us ect. weighs 30 lbs and is a bundle of love. most intelligent animal ever. can't imagine such cruelty and conditions, my husband and i both had to shed tears, so glad you saved him! if for some reason he needs to be inside let us know! totally awesome videos... amazing how he has recovered.

Debbie C.

6:10AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Thank you MaryEllen for saving Harbor. He looks like he is happy and healthy now and enjoying life. Thanks to you, he has room to move and play. And I love how you take him on walks.

Emma D.

9:06PM PST on Feb 10, 2012

i'm so glad harbor is free and well and happy but please tell me that someone had a good long talk with the boat owner who had caged harbor about the suffering he'd caused...

Jackie A.

7:57AM PST on Feb 10, 2012

How cool is that raccoon? Great footage :-)

Margie B.

10:10PM PST on Feb 8, 2012

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW SOME!!!!

Sharon P.

10:50AM PST on Feb 8, 2012

What a wonderful story and videos. As a wildlife rehabilitator myself, I work almost exclusively with baby raccoons and have grown to love and respect them so much. Raccoons are such fantastic animals. It is too bad that because of selfish human intervention Harbor did not get to enjoy a life in the wild as was his birthright. However, Mary Ellen is doing the next best thing, which is to give him as good a life as he can have in captivity. He appears to be very contented with his life now. After spending four years in cramped and filthy conditions, his resilience is inspiring. Good for you, Harbor. Have a long and happy life.

Ann S.

2:55PM PST on Feb 7, 2012

My goodness, what has to be so severely wrong with a person to lock up an animal like this for four years in conditions that cause blindness?! Thankfully, he was rescued by caring people who appreciate this spirit and sympathize with the suffering he has long endured. Keep up the great work - what an awesome raccoon.