Raccoon separated from mother now lives with humans
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00:00 He was born in an attic.
00:02 Homeowner saw the mother raccoon coming and going
00:05 and he had it trapped.
00:06 Four days later, he heard some chattering in his attic.
00:09 He did not know that there were babies in the attic.
00:12 Elio was the only survivor of four raccoons.
00:16 The other three raccoons that mama had passed away
00:19 due to malnourishment.
00:20 Elio was the extreme ultimate fighter.
00:23 He was admitted to Somati Wildlife,
00:25 my nonprofit organization.
00:27 We rescue and rehabilitate Florida native wildlife.
00:30 When he came to me, he was very, very thin.
00:33 His size was smaller than a smartphone.
00:36 The ears were closed, the eyes were closed.
00:38 When they're first born, they're probably about,
00:41 you know, about that big.
00:43 So they're pretty small.
00:44 I'm the clinician for all the animals.
00:46 I treated him with aggressive fluid therapy.
00:49 He was receiving vitamins and minerals
00:52 and he was on a heating pad.
00:54 About four days into his treatment,
00:56 he started to turn around.
00:58 He blossomed and came back to life.
00:59 Just an incredible little fighter.
01:01 He beat all odds.
01:02 I nursed him back to a healthy, full-grown,
01:04 thriving raccoon that was ready for soft release,
01:08 is when they start going into the wild
01:10 and they start acclimating to the outdoor sounds, noises,
01:13 and they start exploring their environment
01:15 so that they can learn
01:17 what their new life is going to entail.
01:19 So during that process, Elio would come and go
01:21 and he actually disappeared for weeks.
01:24 And I was just an absolute nervous wreck
01:27 just knowing that something was not right.
01:29 And he got injured.
01:31 That was very heartbreaking.
01:32 And today he is unable to walk properly.
01:35 He's just not releasable
01:37 and he has now become a permanent resident.
01:39 He stays in, always safe in his little nest,
01:43 which is the bedroom.
01:45 He's welcome to go anywhere he wants, whenever he wants,
01:47 but he feels a lot more safe in the room.
01:49 We have another raccoon.
01:51 His name is Maverick and Elio absolutely adores him.
01:55 Maverick is another survivor.
01:56 He was found in the woods by somebody on horseback
02:00 in the middle of the winter.
02:02 He was just completely by himself.
02:03 There was no sign of mom.
02:05 That person brought him to me
02:06 and immediately we started the same protocol,
02:09 heat therapy, fluid therapy, vitamins, minerals.
02:12 Now Maverick is in soft release.
02:14 He is at that stage where he's coming and going
02:16 and he's staying out for long periods of time.
02:19 And they've just recently reunited
02:21 and just playing and loving on each other
02:24 and grooming each other.
02:25 So Elio is really, really happy.
02:27 Elio is comfortable with me.
02:33 If he can't fully climb something properly,
02:36 he waits for me to come over to him.
02:38 He trusts me endlessly and that means the world to me.
02:48 He is just the most courageous little being
02:50 and his fight and strength to survive and thrive
02:54 is off the Richter scale.
02:56 I just absolutely love him and I'll protect him forever.
02:58 (gentle music)
03:01 (upbeat music)
03:04 (upbeat music)