This website lines it out pretty well. (link below) If at all possible… LEAVE THE BABY ALONE! Mom often goes out to hunt in the middle of the day, she might just be out on a grocery run!
https://www.raccoonworld.com/geosos.html
You have no way to know if the animal may carry rabies. Wild animals WILL BITE! Don’t put yourself at risk. Call a professional!!
http://www.owra.org/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator
Now that you’ve ignored all that and have a baby raccoon in hand anyway- DO NOT GIVE IT MILK! Cow’s milk can make them very sick! Kitten milk replacer is what is best for baby raccoons, but when you first get the baby, odds are it is very dehydrated, so pedialyte is the better option for the first couple feedings. IV fluids are probably the best idea, and a REHABBER has a good relationship with local vets to make sure they are administered… so again. CONTACT YOUR REHABBER.
Baby raccoons need to eat every couple of hours. They need to have their bottoms rubbed to make them go to the bathroom. It is messy. It is smelly. You will lose a lot of sleep and wash a lot of clothes. Do yourself a favor and CONTACT YOUR REHABBER.
Still ignoring me? Okay. Here’s the lowdown. If the baby survives your well-meaning attempts at raising it, your house will be destroyed. Just accept it. All glass things are in danger. All furniture will be tortured, shredded, and chewed. Know any good upholsterers? Hopefully you know several. If you don’t, you will by the time the raccoon is a year old. They will tear holes in the wall. Goodbye electrical cords. I sure hope you don’t have headphones you’re fond of… Oh and baby proofing? They will laugh at the attempt.
If you survive all of that (and don’t even get me started on litterbox training!) then hormones will hit, and your furbaby will turn into a furry demon. You will bleed. A lot. Accept it. For 3 months, you won’t be able to do anything with the fuzzball from hell.
Really, it is best to raise the raccoon with the intent to release- don’t tame it, don’t teach it people are good- it will die quickly when it approaches someone and they think it is rabid. Because you’re going to release it when it starts biting you non stop. You know you will. What else can you do with satan in a fur coat? It happens so often. SO PLEASE PLEASE let a rehabber take care of the baby.
My failure to launch rehab baby Mork had neurological issues, so was unable to be released. He has been neutered, had his shots, and destroys my house with glee every day. Adding one more after having him was an experiment on how much tolerance a raccoon can gain with lots of handling and socializing.
I pay for my decisions to keep my pair. In blood. In liability. I cannot have visitors because there is no raccoon approved rabies vaccination. Everything we see says that the rabies vaccine for dogs works great on raccoons, but there has been not test, no double blind study, etc. The courts won’t chance a human life against a hope that an “unproven” vaccine prevented rabies in your raccoon. That means if someone gets bitten- your precious baby will be PUT DOWN to be tested for rabies, same as a dog who doesn’t have proof of a rabies vaccination.
Are you fond of taking vacations? Think again. Your vacationing days are over. “You are responsible forever, for that which you have tamed.” A raccoon will bond with you like nothing else. Mine won’t even eat if I’m gone all day. There are no raccoon-sitters. They are like having a 2 year old child that WILL NEVER GROW UP. Who will BITE the babysitter. You also cannot travel WITH them because of the rabies liability, and many states will not allow you to legally have one in your possession either. PLEASE keep all of this in mind if you think about taking care of that cute little masked bandit you found. They live for 20 years on average in captivity. It is NOT a short term commitment you’re making.
Here is a good link to how to raise a raccoon with the intent to release if you cannot find a rehabber. GOOD LUCK! (you’re going to need it!)
Raccoon Adventures 