They didn’t know what to do … until she moved.
While carrying out routine repairs, a team of railroad workers noticed what appeared to be a motionless figure stretched across the tracks. At first, they feared the worst — until they saw a faint movement. When they approached, they realized the still form belonged to a raccoon who was barely hanging on.
Without wasting time, the workers reached out to MoonShine Wildlife Rehabilitation for help.
“One of the workers gently placed her in a milk crate with a towel and brought her straight to us,” Christine McCully of MoonShine Wildlife Rehabilitation told The Dodo. “She was extremely underweight and had suffered serious head injuries. She had a concussion, wounds on her head, had lost a toe and couldn’t lift her head or use her back legs.”
The injured raccoon was immediately taken to Whitestone Animal Hospital, where X-rays revealed a severe concussion and a small fracture in her skull. Given the extent of her injuries, her condition was uncertain, but her rescuers were determined to give her every possible chance.
After days of round-the-clock care — including fluids, medication and hand-feeding — the raccoon began to show remarkable signs of improvement. She started eating on her own and even managed to stand and walk again.
“She’s still unsteady and has a long road ahead,” McCully said, “but her progress so far has been far better than we ever hoped for.”
Although it’s too early to know what her full recovery will look like, the rehabilitation team remains committed to supporting her every step of the way.
“Please keep this brave little girl in your thoughts as she continues to heal,” the rescue shared on Facebook. “With time, care and compassion, we hope she’ll one day be able to return to the wild where she belongs.”