What’s a wild critter to do when he finds himself between a rock and a hard place? For one raccoon, it was actually a tight spot between a plastic white fence and a metal shed in Rancho Peñasquitos. He was wedged in a space about six-inches wide and eight-feet deep. The raccoon couldn’t get purchase on either the fence or the shed to climb out.
Fortunately, a neighbor discovered the raccoon’s predicament last Friday evening and called in County Animal Services. When Animal Control Officer Denise Gove arrived, she climbed to the top of the narrow opening between the fence and the shed and shone a light down into the space. A little face at the bottom looked back up at her so Gove grabbed her rescue equipment, scaled the shed and pulled the animal out to safety.
Apparently, the raccoon had been trapped there for several days.
“This little guy certainly was stuck and (it) was a fun challenge to get him free,” said Animal Control Officer Denise Gove. “It was a relief to see that he was not injured.”
“This is another example of our staff going to all lengths to rescue an animal in distress,” said County Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson. “But we couldn’t do these rescues without the community keeping a lookout for animals who need help.”
Without this caring neighbor, Gove said this raccoon would never have gotten out on its own.
The raccoon was about nine to ten months old. He was released back into the nearby vicinity so he could rejoin his family.
