Baby raccoon in Colorado revived with compressions
*Video shows a variety of animals on a trail camera.
DENVER (KDVR) - A baby raccoon was brought back from near death after the newborn fell from a chimney and was separated from its family in Colorado.
Last Sunday, Boulder Fire-Rescue said a neonate, or a newborn, baby raccoon fell from a flue shelf in a chimney to the bottom floor fireplace in a Boulder home.
Jennie Whittle, an animal protection supervisor for the Boulder Police Department, returned the baby to the shelf, where the mother and other babies had lived for a week or so before the fall. The idea was that the mother might move all the babies to a new home, according to the fire-rescue.
But two days later, the baby raccoon was alone.
Boulder Fire-Rescue said the mother and the babies left, and the raccoon was still in the chimney. Another Animal Protection officer, Cheryl Stiso, took over and moved the baby to an outdoor reunite box, since the mother and babies were seen outside, under the deck of the Boulder home.
The box had a hot pad for the baby raccoon, but the next morning, the fire-rescue said the baby had crawled to the edge of the deck. Through the cold and rain, the baby was barely breathing.
Stiso warmed and revived the baby. Animal Protection used compressions to do so, the Boulder Police Department said in an Instagram story.
"Although animals like raccoons are very abundant in Colorado and especially Boulder, they are a vital part of the ecosystem," said a spokesperson with the Boulder Fire-Rescue.
Boulder Fire-Rescue said the baby is currently with a licensed rehabilitator in Brighton who specializes in neonatal wild animal care.
"Animal protection exists to prevent suffering and attempts to keep wildlife wild. Because all the babies were otherwise healthy, they were good candidates for rehabilitation, and they will receive vaccines and basic care and species-specific nutrition, enrichment, and enclosures until they can be released," said the Boulder Fire-Rescue spokesperson.