On Thursday, October 8th, Francis Small Heritage Trust (FSHT) was proud to collaborate once again with our friends at the Saco River Wildlife Center for another successful wildlife release! Building on our previous partnership during a mink release, FSHT helped locate a suitable property where 15 rehabilitated raccoons could safely return to their natural habitat.
From Rehabilitation to Release
The 15 young raccoons came from three separate litters born in May. While under the care of the Saco River Wildlife Center, they were housed together in a large enclosure where they bonded, socialized, and matured into teenage raccoons ready to face the world.
On release day, five dedicated volunteers brought transport cages—holding three raccoons each—out to the release site. The event brought together a small crowd of volunteers and supporters, creating an encouraging environment for the young animals’ big moment.
A Gentle Return to Nature
Upon opening the cage doors, the raccoons showed their curious yet cautious nature. After a bit of hesitation—stepping out to explore before popping back inside to check their surroundings—the raccoons officially ventured out into the woods. Before long, several were already testing their climbing skills and scampering up nearby trees.
According to wildlife center experts, these young raccoons will naturally subdivide into smaller friendly groups and remain in the general forested area as they acclimate. To support their transition, dry food pellets will be left out initially as they adjust to foraging in the wild.
Strong Partnerships for Local Wildlife
Successful rehabilitation efforts rely heavily on finding safe, suitable release sites where wildlife can thrive without disturbing local human habitats.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the generous, wildlife-friendly landowner for opening their property to these former patients, to the volunteers who assisted on release day, and to Cathy Dragoni and the Saco River Wildlife Center team for their continuous dedication to wildlife care. FSHT looks forward to many more collaborative efforts protecting and supporting our local ecosystems!
