Kelly gavages baby raccoon.  

Kelly, a Veterinary Technician at the Center, is feeding the baby raccoon milk replacement, specifically made for raccoons.  Five two-week old raccoons admitted to the Center are too young for syringe feeding.  To gavage feed, the rubber tube below is placed in the raccoon’s mouth – past her epiglottis – past her esophagus and into her stomach.  Undergraduate student interns are trained by our veterinary team to gavage, which enables The Center to feed more babies and provides students with skills training.  Once a student holds a baby raccoon in her hands, she will protect all raccoons and their habitat, for the rest of her life.