Jim Thebarge and his family have always had a soft spot for animals.
For more than twenty years, they have been feeding stray cats in their Connecticut neighborhood. Word of their kindness spread quickly among the local wildlife, and soon, not just cats but other creatures began stopping by their porch in hopes of a meal.
The Thebarges never turned away an animal in need, and one evening, their generosity was put to the test when a very unusual visitor came knocking.
A Strange Guest At The Door
That night, the family heard odd noises outside their front door. Assuming it was just one of the cats helping itself to food, they were not too concerned at first.
“We have heated food and water bowls on our back porch so the cats have warm food and water sources in the below-freezing weather. This and five heated pet beds in our garage in case one of them needs a warm place on frigid or snowy nights,” Thebarge told The Dodo.
But when they peeked out, they realized this was no ordinary visitor. It was not a cat or a dog. What they did see was heartbreaking — an animal with a large jar stuck tightly over its head.
“We believe that he first appeared knowing that we would help him,” Thebarge said.
On closer look, they discovered it was a frightened and hungry raccoon.
The poor raccoon stumbled around with the jar covering his head, unable to eat or drink from the bowls left out for the other animals.
The family knew they had to act quickly before he ran off in panic. But the raccoon, while clearly desperate, was also confused and defensive. Each time someone tried to get close, he bolted.
They began calling animal organizations for help. Finally, a local Connecticut wildlife rehabilitation group agreed to come and set a trap so they could safely remove the jar.
Unfortunately, before the rescuers arrived, the raccoon managed to escape.
Still, Thebarge had a feeling the animal would return. He decided to put his own plan into motion.
Carrying Out The Rescue
Sure enough, the raccoon came back, drawn again by food and water.
“I tied a rope to the back porch door and ran the end of it out into our backyard. Within 30 minutes of the rescue folks leaving, the raccoon showed up at the food bowl desperate to eat and drink. I was able to pull the door shut with the rope, and he was trapped on the porch. We called the rescue folks, and they came back within 30 minutes,” Thebarge said.
The rescuers worked carefully, managing to approach the frightened animal and cut the jar away from his head. At last, the raccoon was free.
After a quick checkup to make sure he had not been injured, the raccoon was released back into the wild. The family and the rescuers breathed a sigh of relief, overjoyed that he had survived and could now live safely.
But this was not the end of the story.
Two weeks later, the same raccoon returned to the Thebarges’ home. This time, there was no jar, only a grateful little animal coming back for food, water, and perhaps to thank the family who saved him.
Now, he visits their porch daily, enjoying warm meals, fresh water, and the company of his human friends.
A Word Of Caution
While this story had a heartwarming outcome, Thebarge and wildlife experts urge people to be cautious.
It is important to remember that raccoons can carry rabies, a virus that is fatal for humans. Approaching them directly can put you at serious risk.
If you encounter a raccoon or any wild animal in distress, the safest choice is to contact local animal control or a licensed wildlife rescue group. They have the training and equipment to handle these situations safely.