One local raccoon found itself in quite the predicament last week when his head got stuck in a car tire. Luckily, wildlife rescue organizations in Loudoun County were able to safely free the critter.
According to a social media post from the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, a community member found the raccoon with his neck trapped in the center bore of a spare tire and contacted the Loudoun County Animal Services. Animal Services staff, with the help of volunteers with NoVA-based Kristi’s Caring Hands, were able to sedate the raccoon with injectable anesthetics and remove him with “gentle manipulation.”
According to the post, it didn’t seem that the racoon had been stuck in the tire for very long. He was “alert, well-hydrated, and VERY angry about the whole situation!”
After the raccoon recovered from his anesthesia, Kristi’s Caring Hands released him back to his found location.
“Thank you to the finders who recognized this as an emergency and took the steps necessary to get him help without risking any direct exposure to this high-risk rabies vector species,” Blue Ridge Wildlife Center’s post said. “Wildlife rehabilitation takes a village and we are grateful to have so many amazing partners in this endeavor!”
This isn’t the first raccoon we’ve seen in a sticky situation. A racoon in Ashland made headlines in December when it broke into an ABC store, knocked over bottles of liquor, and passed out in the bathroom.
Feature image courtesy Blue Ridge Wildlife Center
