Beachgoers and Lifeguards Rush to Save Raccoon Trapped Above the Waves
A regular morning walk along a New York beach turned into a race against the clock when a couple spotted a raccoon struggling just above the water, with waves breaking below.
Liz and Mark Glaviano regularly walk at Morgan Memorial Park Beach in Glen Cove (NY). One morning in August, Mark noticed the animal stranded near the seawall, according to Patch.
Mark went for help while Liz contacted a wildlife rescue organization and tried using a branch to coax the animal toward safety. The branch was apparently not convincing, however. This rescue would prove it takes a village…to save a raccoon.
The Rescue Crew Had To Improvise
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Glen Cove lifeguards Dylan Jenkins and Taylor Enrile joined the rescue, along with José Benitez from the city’s Parks crew, according to Mayor Pamela D. Panzenbeck. Video she shared shows the group improvising with a board and an umbrella as they worked to get the raccoon back to safety.
The raccoon eventually grabbed onto the board and worked its way across to safety.
Glen Cove Mayor Pamela D. Panzenbeck shared video of the Aug. 11 rescue on Facebook.
Panzenbeck praised the improvised effort, calling it “a little trial, a little error, one happy ending.”
Raccoons Can Swim, But This One Was Clearly Struggling
Finding a raccoon around water is not itself unusual. A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation manual describes raccoons as good swimmers, although they generally stay near banks and shallow portions of lakes and streams.
This animal found itself in a starkly different situation. Liz said it was shaking with fear,
Anyone who encounters distressed wildlife is urged to not directly pick up or handle it. New York DEC recommends contacting a regional wildlife office, licensed rehabilitator, or nuisance wildlife control operator when an animal is injured or trapped somewhere it should not be. Raccoons are also considered a rabies-vector species in New York. This requires additional licensing for any rehabilitators who care for them.
In Glen Cove, a board, an umbrella, and several people brimming with determination and a desire to help proved enough—though safety for all parties must be a determining factor.
