CONDON’S CORNER
On Mother’s Day: Lessons from A Mama Raccoon
© 2025 Marlene A. Condon All Rights Reserved
“On Mother’s Day: Lessons from A Mama Raccoon”
My mother, who is now deceased, was always there for
her children. She didn’t excuse or condone anyone’s bad behavior or the poor
choices they made in life, but she didn’t nag about it and was always right
there to help us when needed.
Her behavior represents to me the true meaning of a
mother’s love. You could do something
stupid, such as when one of my older brothers totaled his car by speeding and
losing control of it (thank goodness he wasn’t seriously injured), but he knew
he could call home and my mother would come to get him and help him to deal
with the situation.
On this Mother’s Day, I’d like to offer a tribute to
all moms, whether they be human, or not! I’ve amassed fascinating accounts of wildlife
behavior that I feel can provide valuable, insightful lessons for folks. Herewith,
a couple of those accounts that might guide you on your own journey through
life.
This heartbreaking scenario is difficult to witness; you feel sorry for the young animals that so obviously do not want to leave their mom. But you know intellectually that those kits are ready to behave as adults so life can be perpetuated.
Love in its purest
form.
While you might feel the mama raccoon in this story
is cruel or heartless, I can say I’ve witnessed a mother raccoon exhibiting
great patience and love for her baby.
Years ago, I had a Chimney Swift box placed on a tall radio tower in my yard. My hope was this species would use the box for nesting. That situation never happened, but a female raccoon decided one year to use the box as a den for her babies.
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| This “Chimney Swift” box (never used by that bird species) on the radio tower by the author’s driveway served as a raccoon den one year. |
One day I heard a plaintive cry (I have microphones
outside my house for research) that indicated an animal in distress. I
immediately looked out and saw a small, young raccoon running around in circles
at the base of the tower, obviously quite distraught. I realized it must have
fallen from the box and I felt helpless. I couldn’t possibly catch it nor get
it back to the box (about 20 feet off the ground), even if I could!
But not to worry. I noticed the mother raccoon
calmly climbing down the tower to retrieve her baby. Just as you see a mother
cat do, she picked up the young-un by the scruff of its neck and made the
arduous journey back up the tower—a vertical climb made quite difficult by the
force of gravity—carrying that baby by her teeth.
 |
A mama raccoon carries her kit back to the den box it had fallen from, 20 feet straight up a radio tower in the author’s yard. |
It was a stupendous feat, illustrating a mother’s
love, devotion, and concern for her offspring. I see my own mother in this
raccoon’s dedication to her family, as the raccoon seemed to simply do what she
knew had to be done. That’s love in its purest form.
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