You have no doubt seen many animal rescues on television or social media. Rescues of livestock from barn fires to flash floods. A dog who fell in a hole and got stuck. A cat that climbed up something and could not get down without human help. Critters have been cut loose from all types of things. They have been airlifted from mountains and pulled from the ocean. But this story is a little different.
“It's really almost an unbelievable thing to see," a man from our church told me. "You know, if we didn't catch what happened on camera, no one would have ever believed it." For proof, he showed me what the wife of one of his friends had captured on cell phone video as she, the other women, and all the kids were screaming.
The drama unfolded at their monthly backyard cookout a few months ago. Three long-time friends were just wrapping up their weekend cookout with their families when a raccoon suddenly appeared. They had all caught glimpses of it earlier in the woods next to the yard, but none of them thought it would come in closer. It did!
The raccoon must have been really hungry because it rushed in and snatched a slice of American cheese. Halfway back to the wooded area, it became clear to everyone that this raccoon had bitten off way more than it could chew.
The friends all noticed the raccoon had a problem. "It was pointing at its neck, sort of like the universal sign for choking," he said, “That is when we just sprang into action, rushing to it and taking turns hitting its back." “I could not believe a wild raccoon was letting us hit it in the back that hard. I was like, ‘God help us save this raccoon!’"
He said the raccoon was leaning his back against it. Like, “Help me out here, brother!” And help the raccoon; they did as the footage showed. The cheese came flying out of the raccoon's throat after they whacked him on the back for a while. The raccoon survived and remained right there with them all for several minutes in the backyard before slowly wobbling away. At the edge of the yard, it stopped before going into the woods and looked back as if saying, “Thank you”.
We have a veterinarian at church, and I called him over so the man could show him the video and tell him the story. After watching and hearing, he said, “I have seen it all and been bitten by it all, but I have never seen anything like this. I certainly do not recommend slapping raccoons or any other wild animal on the back. I am just glad you did not try giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, even though a choking animal cannot bite you."
But regardless, the three friends believed they had no choice. One of them said, “We all thought the little guy was going to die.” Another said, "We were pumped for that little dude." The third one added. "He was one of us at that point."
Now, when they gather each month for their backyard cookout, they set out a special plate for a four-legged, furry fella. When he smells the food, he comes in to join them and say hello. The last time he came, he brought along his wife and three little ones. They got more plates out. When the meal is blessed, the friends and family always thank God for a raccoon rescue.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
- John Muir
Nixa, Mo. native Larry Whiteley has communicated the great outdoors across America for over 40 years through newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, and a nationally syndicated radio show. To read more of his award-winning stories, go to www.storiesbylarry.com. Email him at larrywhiteley2@gmail.com.
