In a video shared by The Dodo, a determined female raccoon is spotted peeking out of a public trash bin, fiercely guarding her space. The trash can’s lid serves as her private den, and she doesn’t take kindly to anyone getting too close. Anyone daring to approach gets swatted away by this protective mama.
The person filming, an experienced animal rehabilitator, warns passersby, “Don’t go near there! There’s a raccoon in there!” Despite his calm demeanor, the raccoon isn’t thrilled and wriggles and screeches as she's carefully removed from the bin.
Once she's out, the chirps of her babies can still be heard coming from the trash can. Nestled under a pile of red coffee cups are six tiny raccoon kits, only about 21 days old, making adorably sweet sounds.
While a trash can may seem an unlikely home, it's actually a cozy and secure spot for a mama raccoon to keep her little ones safe, especially in a public area. Though this home was short-lived for Mama Raccoon, the family was successfully relocated to the wild.
If you'd like more heartwarming pictures of these little “trash pandas,” check out Gates' Wildlife Control's Instagram. A big shoutout to all the fierce mama animals out there—this family found their way to a safer place, thanks to the efforts of wildlife professionals!