Friday, May 15th 2020
A moral dilemma at “Racoon Trail”-What should I do with this little “Nugget?”
Day Time: Today I was taking a walk around my neighborhood when I came across a tiny suffering baby racoon. I had my ear buds in but no music was playing when I heard it…it was a minute squeaking sound that I knew wasn’t a bird. At first, I looked around but I didn’t find anything. Then again, I heard the sound. It was a sort of faint squeak like a kitten in pain. I scanned the area but I didn’t see it. Finally, on the third squeak I saw her. She was tiny and barely moving hidden in a bed of clover. I could see some labored breathing but hardly any movement, so I knew she was alive. My heart went out to her and I wanted to help her. I was filled with feelings of empathy, curiosity and respect.
It made me think about what I would do if the children I teach were here. What would I role model? My logical brain said: “leave it be.” This is part of nature-the cycle of life and death and in outdoor school I try not to disturb critters that I encounter. I text a photo to my friend and she said, “save it!” I once rescued a baby bird that fell from a nest. I took it to a wildlife rescue facility in San Jose and they released it back into the wild, so maybe I could do this for her too?
I walked around the neighborhood looking for box or something to move her without touching her. I found an old cardboard sign and an empty crate. I used sticks to gently and respectfully lift her. Her tiny little feet and hands became more distinct to me as she spread them and tried to escape. I realized that she couldn’t open her eyes yet and may have just been born. When she struggled, she squealed and her sounds pulled at my heart strings. I just didn’t want to traumatize her more. I couldn’t bring myself to stress her even more! So I decided to leave her under a tree that was hollowed out at the bottom. I thought she might be safe under there where no one could step on her.
As I left the area, I felt sadness for this tiny creature. I sent a video of her to a “child” and her mom. The “child” I used to babysit for is a twenty-years-old now (an emerging adult) studying to become a veterinarian. I know Shawn and her mom share a love of animals. It was Shawn who suggested that I name her “Nugget.” They reassured me that I did the right thing for little “Nugget” but my heart went out to her without her momma.
Later that evening: When it got dark I had so much guilt about leaving the little Nugget. I was worried that she would be eaten by a coyote or that her momma wouldn’t find her because she had been moved. So, I went back with my friend. We found her all balled up freezing cold, shivering and barely able to move when we touched her. We gently put her in a small box with a towel. I wore gloves so I didn’t leave any oils or strange scents that would cause the momma to reject her. After doing some research my friend Kristy went Target and got baby formula and a syringe so we could force feed her. She cried and whimpered loudly....it tugged at our heart strings.
Again, a dilemma!!! What is the right thing to do with Nugget? She cried and cried so loudly. We learned that racoons are nocturnal and so the likelihood of the momma coming back for her at night was high. We returned her to the place I originally found her. Her cries were loud for such a tiny critter! When I checked on her in the morning the box was empty with no signs of struggle. I think the mother got her. That’s my hope anyway.
References:
Ohlone. (2020, April 27). Retrieved May 23, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohlone
