Hero of the Week: First responders in Bourne, Massachusetts Rescue Raccoon from Storm Drain

 This week's heroes are the Bourne, Massachusetts emergency personnel who freed a trapped raccoon, and transported him, complete with sewer grate, to the Cape Cod Wildlife Center. The heroes were from the Bourne Department of Natural Resources, Bourne Fire Department, Bourne Police Department, and Bourne Department of Public Works.

Bourne emergency personnel transported a trapped raccoon, complete with sewer grate, to Cape Wildlife Center

“In our line of work it sometimes takes a village to do what we do and this young raccoon had so many people fighting to save him today,” the center said. Cape Wildlife Center 

By Elizabeth Mehler, Boston.com August 14, 2026

First responders in Bourne, Massachusetts came together to rescue a raccoon whose head was wedged through the grate of a storm drain, transporting him to Cape Wildlife Center.

(Photo: the raccoon stuck in the grate, with a plastic milk carrier to support him until he could be transported to be freed. Credit: Cape Wildlife Center. )

The responders collaborated to get the entire sewer grate and raccoon transported as one to the center, as the center’s veterinary staff were actively dealing with other emergencies and were unable to sedate the raccoon on scene, the center said in a social media post.

The Bourne Department of Natural Resources, Fire Department, Police Department, and Department of Public Works all pitched in.

“In our line of work it sometimes takes a village to do what we do and this young raccoon had so many people fighting to save him today,” the center said.

Once at the center, veterinary staff sedated the raccoon and used canola oil and plastic garbage bags to reduce friction and free his head. “It took a couple tries but within 10 minutes we were able to free him,” the center said.

(Photo: The raccoon once freed was housed in a crate until he was brought back to the wild. Credit: Cape Wildlife Center. )

The raccoon was able to move all his limbs and neck appropriately once conscious, according to the center. He is currently in an outdoor enclosure at the center, where staff will continue to monitor his improvement.

“Wildlife rescues don’t always happen with one person or one team,” the center said. “This one took a whole community working together, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped get this little guy the care he needed.”