Meekah
(Raccoon)
Procyon lotor
Raccoons are one of the most
unusual looking mammals in North America.
They are easily identified by their plump body, ringed tail, and narrow,
black face mask with two white patches above the eye. They are found virtually
all over the United States, and are allowed as pets in many states; hence, the
reason for our permanent residents. They
have a great sense of smell and hearing, but most of all a dexterous sense of
feel. They have a reputation for
“washing” their food which probably comes from their preference in the wild to
hunt and forage near creeks and streams.
They are very intelligent and mothers pass on many survival techniques
to their young.
Meekah
was a young raccoon housed at a trailer park near Lake Success. She was being raised as a pet raccoon which
is illegal in California. The Fish and
Game wardens had to confiscate her from her owners. She was then transported to
Critter Creek where we hoped to be able to teach her to be wild since she was
still pretty young. Unfortunately, the
harm had already been done. While she is
getting wilder each week, she still is too attracted to people to be a safe
release.