The baby raccoon, or kit, is born in the spring months, typically between March and May, blind, deaf, and covered only in thin fur. Kits are entirely dependent on their mother for warmth, protection, and nourishment during their initial weeks of life. Their rapid development requires a frequent and predictable feeding schedule to support their growth.
Neonate Feeding Frequency
For the first four to six weeks of a kit’s life, the diet is exclusively the mother’s milk, delivered at a high frequency. Newborn raccoons nurse six to eight times every 24 hours, requiring the mother to feed them roughly every three to four hours, day and night. This intense schedule is necessary because their digestive systems are underdeveloped, and their small stomach capacity limits the amount of milk they can process. Their rapid metabolism requires a constant supply of nutrients to maintain body temperature and fuel development.
As the kits grow and their eyes open around three to four weeks, the frequency of nursing decreases slightly. By four weeks old, a kit may be fed four times a day, though they still rely entirely on milk. The mother’s milk provides the necessary fats, proteins, and antibodies for the young raccoons. Raccoons are not fully weaned until they are approximately 10 to 12 weeks old.
Transitioning to Solid Foods
The process of dietary change, known as weaning, begins when kits are between four and six weeks old, coinciding with the time they become mobile and their teeth emerge. The mother gradually introduces small amounts of solid food alongside continued nursing. These first solid meals often consist of foraged items like insects, small vertebrates, and soft plant matter such as berries and nuts. This introduction teaches the young raccoons what is safe and palatable in their environment.
This transition is gradual, and the frequency of nursing decreases as the kits consume more substantial food. The mother may bring food back to the den initially. Soon after, the kits follow her on short foraging trips outside the den at about two months old. They mimic her actions, learning to recognize and manipulate food sources using their sensitive forepaws.
Reaching Independence
Once the kits are fully weaned, they begin a protracted period of learning and supervised foraging with their mother. They accompany her nightly, observing how she locates food, navigates territory, and avoids dangers. This extended apprenticeship prepares them for a solitary adult life.
Young raccoons begin to achieve independence around four to six months of age, though the timeline varies. At this point, they are proficient at foraging, climbing, and identifying den sites. Many young raccoons disperse from their mother’s territory and establish their own range by the end of their first year. This final separation marks the end of the maternal feeding cycle.
What to Do If You Find a Kit
If a baby raccoon is found alone, assume the mother is nearby or will return, as she may be out foraging or moving the litter. An unnecessarily removed kit is considered an “orphaned” animal, and human intervention should be a last resort. Do not attempt to feed a found kit, as improper feeding or the wrong formula can cause life-threatening aspiration or digestive issues.
Initial Assessment and Warming
The primary step is to keep the kit warm by placing it in a container, such as a cardboard box. Provide a safe heat source, like a sock filled with warm rice or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. The container should be placed directly where the kit was found.
Monitoring and Intervention
Leave the kit for at least one whole overnight period, as the mother is nocturnal and most likely to return after dark. If the kit is still there after 8 to 10 hours and appears sick, injured, or cold, it should be contained using gloves. Raccoons can carry diseases like rabies and the parasitic roundworm Baylisascaris. Contact a licensed local wildlife rehabilitator or animal control for guidance, as they have the expertise and legal authorization to care for the animal.