Raccoon Stuck on Telephone Pole

[u/ApprehensiveServe26]

California Poor guy is stuck on top of the telephone pole in my backyard. I think the neighbor’s dog chased him up there. I’m scared to call animal control because last time my other neighbors called to get skunks out from under their house, the guy didn’t know anything about animals/didn’t care and I have a hunch that he took the animals to be put down. What do I do? I’m worried for this guy.

[u/SquirrelNinjas]

animal help now

Try fire dept or hydro company?

Animal control would let him go if he’s not hurt.

But I have a feeling the power company would have to assist here.

Hopefully he doesn’t touch the wires.

Ask the neighbor to keep dogs inside for a bit and allow him the chance to climb down as well.

[u/shac2020 → u/SquirrelNinjas]

Not true unfortunately. When I lived in California I called about a raccoon situation and was informed they are required to euthanize them if they become involved. I was forwarded to someone in, I think, the USDA. He coached me what to do and was great and was sad about his mandate as well.

[u/theheppest → u/shac2020]

Not totally true. I’m a rehabber in San Diego and our facility sometimes utilizes different agencies (fire, power, etc) if needed to access wildlife.

[u/shac2020 → u/theheppest]

Yeah, it’s true that if you call animal control they will put them down. Glad you found workarounds. We had a fox family living in a wash at an elementary I worked at. Both law enforcement and county animal control said that they would have to refer to the same agency for wildlife that I did and if they came out to deal with the foxes they would all have to be put down (mom and her kits). They had already killed a skunk and raccoons at the school that had been living underneath portables at different times. The teachers and administrators were horrified each time and decided to no longer call the county about animals living under the portables. They would find locals who would help the custodians chase them out.

If people in the community referred to certified wildlife rehabbers then, that changes the narrative — but if one called their county (law enforcement/animal control) they have really strict guidelines in California. I only know because the guy (from USDA I think) took a long time to explain it to me and then the staff at school told me their experiences confirming it and then after that we had the fox situation.

Sounds like you had, possibly, special relationships with other entities that you could get help. Which is much more sane and humane.

P.S. in Maryland the wildlife rehabbers told me they are not allowed to help or save adult raccoons or foxes bc of rabies. That animal control would be who comes out and the same thing—if they were coming out it was to euthanize them. I saw a stunned fox on the side of the highway who I was trying to get help for. I called all around and was basically told they will do nothing unless there is a suspicion they have rabies. It’s all confusing to me because I followed a wildlife rehabbers in VanCleave, Mississippi on Facebook for years and she rehabs raccoons all the time. But the Maryland facility was adamant that it was a state law they will not help adult raccoons or foxes. I didn’t call other counties, but local animal control confirmed and blew me off.

[u/theheppest → u/shac2020]

I don’t believe this to be the same scenario across California. If a member of the public called law enforcement or animal control they would refer the person to our large rehab facility in the area. Our animal control works for the facility. It’s also very possible that the agencies that were called didn’t know what they were talking about regarding wildlife laws, which wouldn’t surprise me at all.

[u/shac2020 → u/theheppest]

The people we were dealing with knew what they were doing. The man I talked with worked across a large portion of the state and had been in his job awhile. I found out later that he was well-respected and knew what he was doing. I kept asking bc I couldn’t understand why there would be no humane way of dealing with the animals. People were so upset at the school about the other euthanizing that they called all over and went up food chains. It may be that your wildlife rehab facility was so well-staffed and equipped in San Diego that the county is willing to have the referrals go straight to your wildlife rehab place to avoid that.