We have a daytimme racoon, which is a bit unusual. For the most part, raccoons are nocturnal. However, this raccoon seems to have a problem. The first thing you notice is that it walks oddly, protecting it’s back right hip and leg. The second thing you see is that it’s missing a large part of its tail. The guys in this household have taken to calling it “Bob.”
I’ve watched this animal for several days. It comes to gleen what it can from under the bird feeders. Its winter fat has faded, but it’s not gaunt. When he, or she, walks, she puts the right foot down carefully, so I think the damage might be higher up. She doesn’t limp as much as she shuffles.
Either this animal has been clipped by a car, or a larger preditor may have hurt it. We have learned not to feed the raccoon population, but it’s very hard to keep from helping this one. I really don’t want to encourage it to stay. I suppose it would be best to let it sink or swim on its own, but I hope it recovers.