Amazing rescue effort in Watsonville fails to save raccoon’s life

Hours of efforts to rescue a trapped raccoon, which included cutting through pavement and digging up pipes, weren’t enough to save the wild animal’s life, officials said.

A homeless man heard grunts and cries coming from a drain in a parking lot off Freedom Boulevard in Watsonville about 3 a.m. Friday.

The police were called for help but after confirming the animal was in trouble, the police called the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.

By mid-morning, shelter and Watsonville Fire Department personnel had responded, with no luck rescuing the raccoon.

At about 1 p.m. Wildlife Emergency Services workers were called to assist. They specialize in difficult and technical animal rescues.

According to WES, the animal was too tightly wedged to pull out. Public Works was then contacted, but officials there agreed the only way to reach the raccoon would be to cut through the pavement and dig to the pipe.

Officials from WES say the owner of the shopping center had to be contacted. As it turned out, she’s an animal lover and gave permission to dig up the newly paved parking lot.

Saws were rented and shovels were bought to dig by hand until Watsonville Public Works came to the rescue. The department’s workers brought big trucks and jackhammers, and punched through the asphalt in no time.

With the help of many volunteers and agencies the animal was finally pulled out just after 10 p.m.

The animal was placed with heating pads and transported to a Santa Cruz veterinarian.

The raccoon suffered from hypothermia and severe dehydration. The vet believes the animal may have been stuck for longer than 24 hours.

According to WES, the raccoon died about 5 a.m. Saturday.

Wildlife Emergency Services is now asking for donations to fix the parking lot.