It’s rare to see a wild creature wandering city streets, yet for animals, urban areas can be just as perilous as the wild. The concrete landscape is filled with hidden dangers that even the toughest struggle to survive.
One day, while walking through Hewlett, New York, a man suddenly stopped in his tracks. Strange sounds were rising up from a storm drain.
He could never have imagined what he was about to find inside.
Wildlife Rescuers Answer The Call
When he moved closer to the sewer opening, he saw an adult raccoon peering down, calling into the darkness below.
There, at the bottom, was a tiny ball of fur. A baby raccoon was trapped and desperate for help.
The man immediately sought assistance and contacted the Hewlett wildlife rescue team. Karenlynn Stracher rushed to the scene as soon as she heard.
Her heart sank when she spotted the terrified little raccoon deep in the pit.
The drain was far too deep for her to handle alone, so she quickly called in fellow rescuer John Debacker, along with a local emergency service unit.
With everyone gathered, the team moved swiftly.
“John jumped in to make the initial grab,” Stracher said for The Dodo. “I stayed up top to secure it.”
It was no easy task. The frightened baby clung to the bottom, but together, they managed to lift her to safety.
Karenlynn captured the entire rescue on video and later shared it on her TikTok page, @wildliferehab_kl.
A New Beginning In Safe Hands
Once freed from the dark pit, the baby raccoon was shaken and overwhelmed. Everything she had known changed in an instant.
Her mother was gone, and suddenly, she was surrounded by strangers after hours in the cold, wet drain.
But relief soon washed over her as she realized these people meant her no harm. Slowly, the fear faded from her face.
The team had hoped to reunite her with her mother, but incoming storms made that impossible.
Instead, Karenlynn chose the safest path forward and brought her to a licensed rehabber. The transition wasn’t easy, but the little raccoon quickly adapted to her new surroundings and new companions.
“She was integrated into a group of other orphans, who then were raised as a family,” Stracher said.
In time, the group of raccoons was released back into the wild, stronger together.
Community Celebrates The Rescue
This wasn’t Karenlynn’s first rescue, but when she shared the video online, it struck a chord.
People were delighted and moved by this brave and noble undertaking, with one user stating: “Heroes!”
Another one wrote: “Thank you!!!! Gosh it’s been so long since I heard that baby raccoon sound. I thought it was a bird when I first heard it”
“No longer cold & wet!! Yay!!🥰🥰👍” a third one added.
Karenlynn’s story is remarkable in itself. A retired NYC paramedic who once saved countless human lives, she now devotes herself to rescuing animals in need.
And she shows no sign of slowing down. With every rescue, she adds another chapter to a life defined by compassion and courage.
For anyone who wishes to support her, even a small donation to Karenlynn Starcher can make all the difference for the next baby raccoon in need of a second chance.