Raccoon rescue rallies residents

Downtown residents worked for several hours to rescue a family of baby raccoons trapped in a storm sewer Friday night.

Barrie Fire and Emergency Services responded to a call on Donald Street, just around the corner from Station 1 at about 7:30 p.m. Friday. Several racoon puppies were trapped and crying for their mother.

"The catch basin was full of water," Hoffmann said.  'Crews opened the Basin and found baby raccoons cold and wet. They removed them and placed them in a nearby wooded area where hopefully mom will find them tonight."

After rescuing two and releasing them in a nearby park, the crew returned to the station, said Barrie Fire’s public fire and life safety officer Samantha Hoffman.

However, cries from the storm sewer continued and nearby residents continued the rescue efforts.

“There are more babies down there,” said neighbor Dana Browne, whose father went down the manhole to rescue on the rescue mission. “We don’t know why they left. There’s a group of us trying to help.”

Hoffman said the crew left one baby raccoon, because it was not longer accessible as it had run down a pipe. The crews felt it was safe, because it was on a ledge, not in the water and it could find a way to safety.

“They figured he could self-rescue,” she explained.

About 11:30 p.m., a group of concerned neighbours attempted to feed a disoriented baby raccoon in the park and four small pups had been rescued by the determined group. Rescue efforts continued several hours after firefighters left the scene.

While rescuing raccoons is not a common occurrence, Hoffmann says firefighters are often called for unusual rescues.

"When it is unknown who else to call -- the public knows that firefighters will always try to help," she said.