It was like he was covered in a cement shell 🥺
A few weeks ago, residents in Philadelphia noticed a raccoon wandering their neighborhood in terrible condition.
The animal had lost most of his fur and his skin looked severely infected. It was clear that something was very wrong.
Instead of ignoring the situation, the neighbors came together to help the struggling animal. They even gave him a name — Benito.
Ten Days of Trying to Catch Him
The residents spent days attempting to safely trap Benito so he could receive medical care.
But the raccoon proved difficult to catch.
For 10 days, he managed to avoid every attempt to capture him. Finally, the determined group succeeded in luring him into a carrier and transported him to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center.
When rescuers saw Benito up close, they were shocked by his condition.
One of the Worst Cases of Mange
According to Tracie Young, Benito was suffering from an extremely severe case of mange.
The infection had caused thick black crusts to form over his skin.
Rescuers described the buildup as almost like a cement shell, so hard that the pieces couldn’t easily be broken apart.
Experts suspect the severity of the infection may have been worsened by rodenticides, which can weaken wildlife’s immune systems.
To make matters worse, Benito had been living outside during the cold winter without fur to protect him, leaving him shivering and suffering from frostbite.
Starting the Healing Process
The rescue team immediately focused on making Benito warm and comfortable.
He began an intensive treatment plan that included:
- Medication for mange
- Antibiotics and pain relief
- Topical treatments for wounds
Once the medications started working, Benito received a medicated bath that removed many of the hardened scabs covering his skin.
Afterward, the improvement was already noticeable.
With healthy skin beginning to return, his fur now has the chance to grow back.
A Second Chance for Benito
Only three weeks after arriving at the wildlife center, Benito already looks dramatically better.
Rescuers will continue caring for him until enough fur grows back to keep him warm outdoors.
Once he is strong enough, Benito will move into an outdoor enclosure where he can rebuild his strength, climb, explore and practice natural behaviors again.
Eventually, he will be released back into the wild — exactly where he belongs.
Thanks to a caring community and dedicated wildlife rehabilitators, Benito’s story is no longer one of suffering but of hope and recovery. 🦝