What to Do If You Find Baby Raccoons in Your Yard, According to Wildlife Experts

It's fun finding baby animals in the garden—they are adorable, after all—but it's important to consider their safety and yours. Baby raccoons, for example, are very cute, but their mother may have made a den in the attic, crawl space, or shed, which can be bad for them and for the homeowner.

While occasional garden visits cause little damage, a resident raccoon family can cause ongoing issues, such as overturned planters or damaged sod. So what should you do if you find baby raccoons in your yard? We asked wildlife experts for the best course of action and when it's best to call in the pros.

Give Them Space

The best thing you can do is give the baby raccoons space and observe them from a distance. “Young raccoons are often left temporarily while their mother searches for food or moves them between den sites,” says Nathaniel Rakestraw, a veterinarian at TelaVets. “A healthy baby raccoon found alone does not automatically mean it has been abandoned.”

In fact, according to Rakestraw, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is assuming the babies have been abandoned and removing them immediately. You never want to move the babies.

Don't Touch Them

Always avoid touching, feeding, or attempting to relocate baby raccoons yourself. Even young raccoons can bite or scratch when frightened, and wild animals can carry parasites and diseases, says Rakestraw. “Handling them may also cause unnecessary stress and reduce the chances of a successful reunion with their mother.”

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Keep Children and Pets Away

In many situations, the mother will return after dark to retrieve the babies. But if she smells or senses other animals or humans, she will hesitate to come back.

“Excessive human activity around the babies can discourage the mother from approaching, which may make the situation worse,” says Rakestraw. The safest and most humane response is usually patience. Always give the mother an opportunity to return.

When to Call a Professional

Involve a wildlife professional if the babies appear sick, injured, orphaned, or are creating a safety concern on the property, says Rakestraw. These are all situations where professional help is warranted. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or professional if the babies are visibly injured, covered in flies, crying continuously for many hours, found next to a deceased mother, or remain unattended for an extended period without any sign of the adult returning.

Professional assistance is also appropriate if the animal is trapped and needs rescuing, says Thomas Ward, training manager and wildlife biologist at Trutech Wildlife Service.

Raccoons living in your home can be detrimental in a variety of ways, and calling a professional to help remove them is a good idea. “They will often select an area inside the home as the designated bathroom, and these latrines can have a large quantity of droppings accumulate, which carry a risk of transmitting raccoon roundworm,” he says. Lastly, raccoons also carry a higher risk of being a rabies vector—a concern for people and pets.