Massachusetts Wildlife Rehabilitator Practice Exam

If someone calls you with a baby raccoon, what should you advise them to do?

1. Give them the phone number of the local health department

2. Give them the phone number of a licensed RVS rehabilitator

3. Tell them to keep it and raise it themselves

4. Both giving the health department number and RVS rehabilitator number

The correct answer is: Tell them to keep it and raise it themselves

Advising someone to keep and raise a baby raccoon themselves is not appropriate for several reasons. Raccoons are wild animals with specific needs that cannot be met in a domestic setting. They require specialized care, including a diet that mimics what they would naturally forage for, appropriate socialization with their own species, and sufficient space to develop their natural behaviors. In addition to their care needs, raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies, which poses health risks to humans and pets. The general public may not have the knowledge or resources to care for a wild animal properly, and raising a raccoon without professional guidance is often illegal in many places, including Massachusetts. Connecting the caller with a licensed rehabilitator is the best approach. A licensed wildlife rehabilitator has the expertise to assess the animal's condition, provide necessary medical treatment, and ultimately help with its rehabilitation and release back into the wild when it is appropriate.