April, May and June, 2022 was one of the wettest springs on record with weeks of continuous rain, cold and wind. My routine is the same, leave the house in early morning, head for the lower barn to feed the cows and burros, knowing there is no chance of staying dry.
All the farm animals are hidden from view, seeking cover from the rain and longing for the warm rays of the sun. The one exception is hundreds of water fowl on our nearby pond with numbers of them cackling and chasing each other across the water.
As I approach the barn door next to the shed facing the barn, I hear unfamiliar cries of distress and follow the sounds to the rear of the shed and spot a small opening underneath the foundation. Inside, I see a litter of new born raccoons, three are dead, two barely alive and no mother who more than likely has been killed by some predator.
I pick up the two that easily fit into each hand and take them inside the shed. I wrap them in a blanket and place them under heat lamps. Both are given life-saving Pedialyte, an electrolyte drink which they spit out until one of many nipples is barely accepted.
One of the two is slightly larger and appears healthier than the other. Despite round the clock care, the smaller one dies. The odds are dismal for an orphan raccoon to survive without a mother, siblings and more prone to disease.
Ken Harada, our most dedicated volunteer for the last seven years is totally committed to provide nearly 24-hour care just as he has always done for abandoned and injured fawns, ducks, turkeys and day-old calves. At night, Ken sleeps with the raccoon who is fighting to stay alive and requires 10-12 feedings throughout the day and night as well as human warmth and not being left alone. Upon closer examination, the raccoon is a female and we name her "Roxy". Roxy is switched to heated kitten milk re-placer which she rejects and develops diarrhea and has to be force-fed.
As the weeks go by, Roxy begins to drink, only if she feels relaxed and secure which requires being held in human arms, rocked back and forth, hearing a soft, caring voice.
She eventually drinks voraciously, consuming several baby bottles of milk in a 24-hour period which results in dramatic improvement in her overall health and size.
Every morning, Roxy is let out of the shed where she has spent the night for protection and is free to explore her new world. She is a sight to behold; running and rolling in freshly cut grass, climbing trees and bouncing up and down on outstretched branches, ploughing through piles of leaves under trees and jumping up and down on Ken. Most of the farm animals, are scared and intimidated by her and can't comprehend the boldness of this tiny wild animal so unafraid and enamored with people.
After entering the upper barn, Roxy is introduced to her brand new, huge play pen. She immediately runs, rolls, chases balls and attacks assorted squeaky dog toys as well as the bristles of straw on every broom. Each day from dawn to dusk is spent playing and amusing herself until she tires and rests on one of her beds.
Every morning, she greets the volunteers who can feed her grapes as she gently puts her delicate fingers around their hands to take one grape at a time. Ken is the only one who can pet her and pick her up without being bitten as Roxy has always had a healthy amount of fear toward everyone else. We all are captivated by her presence and spirit of joy of being alive and sharing it in front of us.
During a recent visit by our large animal vet to care for a cow, she warns us of certain viruses and diseases carried by raccoons that can be transmitted to humans. Ken is not deterred in the least in his role of surrogate mother taking comfort in her healthy appearance. However, he pays the unsanitary price of Roxy using his head and shoulders as an "outhouse" for weeks as she defecates and urinates on him. Roxy has also developed extremely sharp teeth and enjoys biting me, too hard at times, as a show of affection.
It takes Roxy longer than normal to wean herself from her bottle as she rejects most common food enjoyed by raccoons. After trial and error, she will eat only one brand of puppy chow, Rachael Ray Nutrish as well as hard-boiled eggs, peanuts in the shell along with her two favorites: grapes and graham crackers.
Ken and Roxy remain incredibly bonded throughout the summer and when he leaves on the ATV with a load of hay for the pasture, she stands up on her hind feet, front legs bowed on her little chest, resembling an African Meercat, and whimpers until he returns.
On days when Ken is not at the sanctuary, she disappears somewhere in the nearby forest but miraculously appears as she can differentiate the sound of Ken's car from the other volunteer vehicles.
As the warm days of fall end and winter begins, Roxy experiences numerous snowfalls and revels in rolling and burying herself in it and sliding across the frozen pond.
In February 2023, Ken informs me that he and his mother are moving to Arizona, which will have a profound effect on Roxy's life. On the fateful day of his departure, Ken holds her in his arms for the last time and Roxy has no idea she will never see him again.
After a few days, Roxy, nervous and agitated, peers out of the front barn doors, stands on her hind feet emitting high-pitched cries. At other times, she walks up to the parked volunteer cars, stands up again, looking all around wondering where he has gone.
On Saturday afternoon, March 18,2023, I head to the barn on the warmest day in the last 5 months at 64 degrees. Every living creature is enjoying the new found warmth of the sun and there is new, budding growth everywhere. I think of Roxy often and remember that next month in April, she will be the ripe old age of one year old.
I open the giant barn doors and rays of sunshine rush in. As I enter, I can hear the lifeless silence without Roxy. Scattered all over the floor are items Roxy has removed from shelves and tables which she uses as make-shift play toys in addition to her actual animal toys. I pick them up and put them away as Roxy's playful personality has disappeared with the departure of Ken and she shows no interest in playing with her toys.
Roxy can sense Ken is not coming back and is rarely seen in the barn and days pass when she has not touched her food. Now, she spends most of her time, out of sight in the forest.
It is sad not seeing Roxy who illuminated our hearts every day and is our bright "North Star" in the night sky. We can only hope she is safe and finds her mate to ease her loneliness from the loss of two mothers and her siblings.
Sometime in the near future we have a beautiful dream that may come true: Roxy scampers as fast as she can toward us and trailing behind her is her family of babies.
Roxy is as proud as she can be knowing deep inside her being, she will always have the love and affection of a small group of caring human beings.
