Support Don Cote’s Wildlife Care Center

I just wanted to express my gratitude and share a heartfelt THANK YOU to Don Cote at the Wildlife Care Center in Vassalboro. On Tuesday late evening I was headed home from Vassalboro after a couple jobs and picking up the dogs, when I watched the pickup truck in front of me drive through a family of raccoons crossing the road. I saw a couple of them manage to run out of the lane at the last second to opposite sides of the road, but one of them was hit and spun into the center of the lane where it laid motionless. I could tell immediately that it was still alive. I did a U-turn just after passing it and pulled into a driveway facing out toward the road so that my headlights were directly on the raccoon, hoping to alert the other traffic coming that it was still alive. Thank you to the semi-truck and car for understanding and not hitting it!! After the immediate traffic passed, I went and picked up the raccoon and brought it to the side of the road where I was; she was still breathing, mouth and eyes open. I called Don at the Wildlife Care Center immediately, already 8:20pm, and he was more than happy to take my call, ask questions (making sure it wasn’t the mom raccoon which would have been a bigger issue for the rest of the babies), and have me bring the raccoon in. Once I arrived at his location at 8:40pm he came right out and after taking my info, started working with the raccoon immediately. I apologized for bringing an animal so late and thanked him, and he assured me “it’s not late at all!”

I know that Don and his wife had run this wildlife rehab center for over five decades. When his wife passed away a few years ago, he continued to take in and care for these animals. You can tell that this is his passion and that he truly loves what he does. My parents also brought him a family of baby raccoons a few years ago after the mother had been hit, and he happily took them, updated and was able to release [all but one of] them. At that time he said he had the help of a couple of volunteers, but as caring for wildlife is a 24/7 commitment, I’m sure if anyone was interested in volunteering there, he would appreciate the help!

I called yesterday to check on the raccoon and he told me she started to wake up more in the kennel, was transferred to the other facility he works with (in Bowdoin) and that “she was doing fine.” I was so happy to hear that!

Don does absolutely amazing work and is able to do what he does through donations. I created this GoFundMe in case anyone is interested in donating to help out with whatever he may need, between housing, bedding, food, medications, etc for these animals. I would love to be able to give him a big check to hopefully help him in getting any supplies he may need and to show appreciation for what he does!

If you would like to mail a check directly to Don, the address is:

1787 N Belfast Ave, Vassalboro, ME 04989

If anyone would like to donate to the second facility this young raccoon was transferred to and is now being rehabilitated at, it is the Wilderness Miracles Wildlife Rehab in Bowdoin. They have a donation link on their Facebook page as well as wish lists!

Thank you all so much!! Reading, donating and sharing are all greatly appreciated and I am so grateful. And my SINCEREST gratitude to Don and his Wildlife Care Center, as well as to the Wilderness Miracles Wildlife Rehab, for all that you do and for doing it all with a huge and selfless heart!❤️❤️