AboutJonathan Wright Expertise I can answer questions about wild mammals, as well as other wild animals. I can also answer questions on extinct animals and zoos.
I do not have expertise in animal medicine and care and cannot give advice on veterinary problems. Please contact a wildlife veterinarian or a wildlife charity or organisation if you find an injured wild animal. Please do not take wild animals out of the wild. This can be illegal and also very cruel, especially if you do not know how to look after the animal.
I do not agree with fights between different animals. Please do not ask me questions about them.
Experience I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two years old. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations World Wide Fund for Nature. Zoological Society of London. London Bat Group.
Publications Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' levels in Zoology and Chemistry. 'O' Level in Biology.
Expert: Jonathan Wright Date: 7/23/2008 Subject: raccoon missing limbs
Question It was quite small when it started eating the left over cat food outside. I thought my husband was seeing things. When I finally saw it, it only has one front foot. There are just stumps where the rear and other front foot are supposed to be. It is quite agile and is not aggressive in any way. We feed it high quality dry cat food and give it a large stainless bowl of water and he/she will get in the bowl drink and occasionally defecate when finished. We live on the gulf coast of Florida. It's about a year old now. If I call wildlife they will execute the poor thing. Is this a common birth defect or do you suppose it was injured by dogs or escaping a trap?
Answer Dear Eve
Thanks for your question. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.
I think that the raccoon probably lost its front leg due to an injury, such as being hit by a car (see http://www.2ndchance.info/raisingraccoons.htm), or perhaps by escaping a trap, a dog or similar. While a raccoon could be born with three limbs, I doubt if it would survive for long, as it would probably find it hard to compete with other members of its litter. A vet may be able to tell you if the lost limb is due to an accident, or due to a gene, but, as you say, the vet may advise you to have the raccoon put down. Please take care that you are not breaking the law by keeping the raccoon. Also, please be careful when handling the raccoon, as raccoons can catch a variety of diseases (http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/1997/fall/raccoon.shtml).
