Poor Raccoon Living With Trap on Paw Got Stuck in Tree Trying to Escape Dog

A raccoon that had been living with its paw in a trap got stuck in a tree while trying to escape a barking dog.

The raccoon's foot became lodged in an illegal trap, the Idaho Humane Society said in a Facebook post. The animal forced to drag the trap around with it, causing severe injuries. One day as it was running away from a barking dog, the trap became stuck in a tree.

Anima Care and Control officers were alerted to the incident and found the raccoon suffering from broken toes. The animal was brought to the Idaho Humane Society's shelter where it received antibiotics and cleaning.

"Idaho Fish and Game is the agency responsible for setting guidelines for trapping," an Idaho Humane Society spokesperson told Newsweek. "One of those regulations is that the traps must have identifying marks so that trap can be traced back to their owner.

"They also provide regulations for the placement of traps and when and where they can be used. Unfortunately, once or twice a year, we will find animals that have been injured from being ensnared by illegally placed and unmarked traps."

The raccoon was passed over to the Animals In Distress Association & Ruth Melichar Bird Center, where he is "healing wonderfully" with a "new lease on life."

It is not clear who set the trap or why. The Idaho Humane Society is appealing for any information on the incident.

Raccoons are common across the U.S. and are often found in urban areas rummaging for food. Many see them as pests and seek to get rid of them using inhumane methods.

Traps such as the one in Idaho are sometimes used to catch animals for fur. Trapping is a traditional form of hunting in which traps are laid out for the purpose of catching certain animals, like raccoons.

Illegal traps such as this do not just pose a danger to native wildlife, but pets. Each year, pets find themselves caught in these traps while walking with their owners, the Idaho Humane Society said on Facebook.

"Thankfully, the Idaho Humane Society has outstanding veterinary employees and staff who can help most of these animals recover from their injuries," the Idaho Humane Society told Newsweek. "[The society] stands ready each day to provide emergency care to any injured or domestic animal brought into our facility.

"Once stable, we will pass wildlife onto specialized partners for rehabilitation and release, or sanctuary. This raccoon is currently being rehabilitated with Animals in Distress and will have a new chapter with release when he is cleared."

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