Mystery over raccoon found behind garden shed in Scotland

Animal rescue are appealing to the owners of a raccoon found lost and frightened behind a garden shed in Alloa. The animal, which the Scottish SPCA say has been used to being with people, was found cowering in the garden of a house in Mowbray Gardens after the resident spotted him.

Raccoons would not normally be found in the wild in Scotland and are unusual pets, said the animal charity. Chief Inspector Paul Anderson, of Scottish SPCA, said when they originally received the call they presumed the resident had been mistaken and it was a badger. He said: "We presumed that it would either be an injured badger or possibly even a hoax, but true enough, when he arrived the raccoon was sitting in the garden, lost and distressed.



"As he was clearly afraid, we had to approach and contain him using a grasper, which was quite stressful for him, but the only safe way to conduct the rescue. We then transported him to our Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre where he is resting and recovering from his ordeal." Staff at the Centre have named the adult raccoon Bandit, because of the animal's facial markings and reputation for stealing food from bins.

Staff at the Edinburgh centre are now looking after the animal, who they believe either escaped from his animal enclosure or was abandoned when he grew too big. Diane Stewart, manager at the centre, said: "As a nocturnal creature, Bandit is proving to be quite shy during the day, preferring to curl up and snooze in his bed, but we're hoping that the bananas, corn on the cob and fish we are feeding him will encourage him to feel at home."