Local News

After the girl cub wasn’t able to be reunited with her family, she was transported to a wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit in Pembroke.

A baby raccoon was rescued from a wheel well in Dedham on Tuesday, animal control officials said, but the cub won’t be returned to the wild.

Dedham Animal Control said the baby raccoon, a girl, was most likely separated from her family and nestled into the wheel well. She wasn’t injured, so animal control put her in a box near the car in hopes of reuniting her with family.

“Our hope is that his momma will hear his little chittering calls overnight and will return to find him,” Dedham Animal Control wrote on Facebook. “The goal with young wildlife is to never presume orphaned until first giving nature a chance to respond.”

But, she wasn’t claimed by her mother, Animal Control updated on Wednesday. Instead, the cub was transported to a wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit in Pembroke, where she joined other raccoons. 

Hare of the Dog helps treat and care for animals like raccoons, opossums, and chipmunks to aid their return to the wild, according to their website. Dedham Animal Control said the nonprofit will help feed, socialization, educate, and teach instincts in preparation for release.

“Thankfully we have non-profits like Hare of the Dog, Inc., who specialize in caring for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife – which takes a lot of time, patience, commitment and compassion,” Dedham Animal Control wrote. “Did we mention time??”