Rain-Soaked Baby Raccoon Found on Doorstep Melts Rescuer’s Heart

It was a busy day for Belchertown Animal Control in Massachusetts on June 7th when they received several calls about abandoned baby animals. One was a baby groundhog, and the other, a baby raccoon. A homeowner found the soaked raccoon curled up on their doorstep after a rainstorm.

The homeowner guessed the raccoon had been on his doorstep all night based on how his dog had been acting. When Animal Control Officer Byrnes arrived, he saw just how scared the baby was.

“The little baby was cold and wet from the rainstorm we had,” the animal control officer on the scene exclusively told PEOPLE. “As soon as I saw him, my heart broke. He was drenched and looked so scared, curled up at the front door. He was too young to be on his own.”

After searching the area for the raccoon’s mother with no luck, the baby was taken to the Leyden Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, who opened their doors despite having just announced they were closed for intakes that very day. They wrote on Facebook, “We are close for intake, sorry everyone, we currently have 21 raccoons, 18 opossums, 2 groundhogs, 7 foxes, 2 porcupines and 1 flying squirrel. We are all out of space and time.”

But after Belchertown Animal Control called, the wildlife center shared a photo and wrote: “Was not gonna take anymore raccoons, but well…. How do you say no to this guy?”

They later learned that the raccoon—who they’ve now named Bub—had become internet famous because of his rescue photo.

“Or latest raccoon, the one from Belchertown, is apparently famous,” Leyden Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation wrote on Facebook. “Various news agencies have been asking about him, so you might see him in the news some more. Great job with that Pic ACO Byrnes! Meanwhile he is doing well in quarantine!”

Bub will stay at the rehabilitation center until he is old enough to be released back into the wild.

“Huge thanks to the resident that found the raccoon, he is transporting both babies to rehab!” Belchertown Animal Control’s Facebook post said. “And a huge thank you to our amazing wildlife rehabber. It certainly takes a village!”