Raccoons and Opossums Released at New Melones Lake

Written by: Patricia Sanders

Oppossum being released.On Thursday morning, February 18, 2016, the coordinator of the Rose Wolf Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center, Nina Huff Resnik, three Center volunteers, and New Melones Lake staff members Pat Sanders and Sandra Patania traveled to the Bean Gulch area of New Melones Lake in Tuolumne County to release two young opossums and three juvenile raccoons that had been rescued by the Center. The opossums were freed on the right side of the road near a creek, while the raccoons were released on the opposite side of the road further down the creek.

The animals were orphans when the Center took over their care, raising and rehabilitating them for 5-6 months before their release. Since they’d been hand-fed, they were fairly tame, so they needed to be released into an area away from humans in order to acclimate and become wild. The condition of the young animals was excellent, and Nina was confident they would adapt well to their new home.

Upon release, the raccoons stayed together, climbing high into a gray pine tree. One of the opossums immediately disappeared, but the other stayed inside a box left for them to hide and sleep in. Food was also left to help them have a smooth transition.

The Rose Wolf Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center was founded 20 years ago in Sonora, California. The Center rescues, cares for, and rehabilitates about 150 animals annually, with many of them returned to their natural habitat. In 2002, the Center incorporated and became a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization. It is licensed by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife to care for injured and orphaned wildlife in Tuolumne County. The Center specializes in caring for small mammals such as fawns, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, foxes and squirrels.

Published on March 22, 2016