3 Orphaned Raccoons Released Into Wild After San Diego Humane Society Rehabilitation

RAMONA, CA — Three orphaned raccoons have returned to the wild after becoming the first animals to graduate from San Diego Humane Society's new raccoon nursery at its Ramona Wildlife Center, the organization announced.

The raccoons were released July 31 at Mission Trails Regional Park after being brought to the organization separately between May 18 and June 9. The animals were found by community members in Chula Vista, Ocean Beach and Santee.

The juvenile raccoons, known as kits, received medical care, including vaccinations and deworming, from San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife team. They were also provided a varied diet of foods, including rodents, fish, eggs, insects, fruit, nuts, seeds and vegetables.

As they grew, the raccoons moved into outdoor enclosures designed to help them develop survival skills, including climbing, exploring, foraging and finding natural food sources.

"This release is especially meaningful because these raccoons are the first graduates of our new centralized raccoon nursery at the Ramona Wildlife Center," said Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at San Diego Humane Society. "By caring for raccoons in a dedicated setting, we can give them the best possible opportunity to return to their natural environment."

San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife program admitted 315 raccoons in 2025. So far this year, 147 raccoons have entered care.

Residents who find an injured, sick or potentially orphaned wild animal can visit San Diego Humane Society's Wildlife Help Hub for guidance.