#47- Raining cats and...raccoons?

Last week it never rained but it poured! during a small break in the downpour, I had put the kids down for a nap and was meandering around when I saw this little guy scrambling for shelter in our birdfeeder. Likely separated from mom while exploring but certainly not old enough to be out on his own, he huddled there shivering away, and hissing at the neighbour dog who had already spotted him. He didn't seem to mind me coming around though. I yelled at dog and cooed at coon, but decided to let him be, hoping his mom would come back or that eventually he would head out to find her or his nest again.

Alas, neither happened and it began to rain again, harder than before, it took all of my willpower to hold off and wait, I even stuffed an outside blanket in with him to keep him warm (mothers won't recognize their babies if they are too cold, interesting fact) But the day passed and I put the kids to bed for the night and decided to take some action. I put on a big sweater, gloves and got a heavy blanket and scooped him up (he protested a little bit but I think he was so worn out he didn't care) and brought him under the overhang in our yard where I had set up a little box with a heating pad under the BBQ. I had a door on it in case he decided to leave or his mom came sniffing, then I let him be again.
The next morning he was still there, warmed up but in a bad mood (which was actually a better sign than passivity) I put out a bowl for him with some warm kitten formula and he gobbled it up (another good sign that he might be about old enough to fend for himself)
A couple days passed and still no mom, sometimes he would leave but would always come back to the box. One night we heard him running up and down the lane crying. Positively breaking my heart. He left again a couple nights ago and I've only seen him once since running under my porch where he might still be living.
I'd like to hope that he found his family or another family, or that he is taking care of himself, either way it is better for me to hope instead of him still hanging around and me not having many options left...animal shelters were full and other removals either cost money or were a death sentence.
As much as part of me wanted to keep him and raise him myself as I've done before, I knew with my own kids and lack of time, and for the best interest of little Moses (I dubbed him since I literally 'drew him out of the water':) it is better that I give him the best chance he could get and hope for the best!

I had two baby orphan raccoons when I was young that I raised (at different times) I can say even now that they were my favourite pets out of hundreds I had had of every different kind and species. Once attached to you, you basically became their mom, and my best little friends! I remember taking the one little guy everywhere, he was with me all spring and summer, I fed him during the nights, and he occasionally slept curled up at my feet in my bed. We would climb trees, hunt for frogs, and wrestle under a tent outside. Raccoons are the most incredible creatures, and babies are simply irresistable. Better than a puppy or a kitten any day!
The first one I had to release was heartbreaking for me, and I still remember the exact events that took place of leaving him in a forest and running as fast as I could back to the car with my mom so he wouldn't follow us. I remember looking back as we were driving away and seeing him crying out and running after us, he was still quite little so he wasn't very fast. 
It remains one of the hardest things I've ever had to do and is still a bit sore to think about. All I could do was hope for the best for the little guy. That he lived a full life and died old and happy and surrounded by raccoon friends.
All we can ever do is the best we can do. Many people told me to get rid of Moses ASAP in any way possible and Eric warned me for getting 'attached' to it. And while I appreciate the concern, he was still one of God's creatures in trouble in my backyard. They say it's always best to let nature take it's course, but I think we are responsible in easing the way in a respectful manner. As we ourselves are a part of nature.
Good luck out there Mo'! I hope to see you again one day in another manner.