Massachusetts raccoon rescued after an arrow is found stuck through her face
A difficult capture
A person in Plymouth contacted the Cape Wildlife Center after spotting the injured raccoon. Staff directed the caller to local animal control so the animal could be captured.
The effort took about a week. Wildlife veterinarian and medical director Dr. Priya Patel described the raccoon as very feisty, including while she was in her cage.
X-rays reveal the injury
To limit stress and keep staff safe, the team sedated the raccoon in her cage before removing her. They then found that the object entering her face also emerged from the back of her head.
X-rays showed an arrow, possibly a mini crossbow arrow. It had not struck her eye or sinus cavity, and her skull was not fractured.
Treatment and recovery
Patel and her colleagues removed the arrow, cleaned the wound and applied antibiotic ointment. They also started the raccoon on antibiotics and pain medication. She is doing well and will remain at the wildlife center until her wound heals and she finishes the antibiotics. Staff expect to release her back into the wild afterward.
Hunting season in Massachusetts
Raccoon hunting is legal in Massachusetts. The 2026 raccoon and opossum season ran from January 1 through January 31, with another season beginning in October and continuing through the end of the year.
Key points
- Animal control took about a week to capture the injured raccoon in Plymouth.
- The arrow passed through her face and out the back of her head without fracturing her skull.
- The raccoon is recovering at Cape Wildlife Center and is expected to return to the wild.
- Massachusetts permits raccoon hunting, with 2026 seasons in January and from October through year’s end.