Arrival of the Mountain Raccoons
Among the first baby raccoons to arrive at Critter Care this season were a group we nicknamed “the mountains,” despite coming from the low-lying Delta area. They were named after B.C. mountains: Brunswick, Golden Ears, Strachan, and Alouette. This one girl and three boys arrived cold but mostly healthy, thanks to their mother, who, sadly, was killed in a road accident.

A Surprising Start
Strangely enough, they all weighed exactly 135 grams when admitted, with their eyes and ears still closed. They didn't yet have the raccoon facial mask or tail stripes, but they quickly adapted to their new surroundings. Within three weeks, all four had opened their eyes and started to show their unique personalities.

Growing Personalities
Brunswick, the biggest of the bunch, took on the alpha role early and remains the heaviest. Strachan and Golden Ears are like twins in almost every way, except for their names. They often play second fiddle to their dominant brother, though Strachan has recently started challenging Brunswick for his top spot. Then there’s Alouette, the sweet girl who holds her own against her brothers. Quiet but fierce when needed, she has an endearing demeanor and is determined to thrive despite the chaos of living with six boys.

A Growing Family
Yes, you read that right. By early June, the group of four was joined by three more boys: Jukes, Harvey, and Sky Pilot. Being older when they arrived, they were harder to feed since they had spent more time with their mother before becoming orphaned. But with some gentle persuasion, they took to the bottle and soon integrated into the group.

Outgrowing Their Pen
The playful seven quickly outgrew their pen, making quite the mess with a potty and food plate. Luckily, their new, spacious enclosure was ready just in time. Their world expanded significantly as they explored leaves, branches, and rocks for the first time.

Preparing for the Wild
They’re now enjoying regular supervised outdoor playtime with their caring human “parents.” Soon, it will be time to start weaning them off milk, just as their mother would have done in the wild. From this point on, their journey back to the wild begins, as they gradually reduce contact with their human caregivers and develop more of their natural behaviors.