Hello. We were helping a friend in Schaumburg to move today and noticed what appears to be an older juvenile raccoon huddled in a dumpster on the property. We cannot tell if it is injured or simply unable to get out of the dumpster - or perhaps in need of food and water and unable to leave the dumpster. Perhaps it is still too naive to know what to do to get out of the dumpster w/out it's family. We put some oyster crackers and water in there for it and are hoping that it will leave one way or another overnight tonight. However, if it's still there tomorrow morning, what should we do? Who should we call?

Raccoons just can't seem to pass up a free meal. But sometimes the young ones are not strong enough to get back out if the dumpster is not very full. You should call the apartment complex manager. Putting a board in the dumpster will give the raccoon a way to crawl out if it is not sick or injured. Angle the board to make it easier to climb. If the raccoon will not leave on its own, it may need to be live-trapped. The property owner would need a permit from the IDNR to legally trap the animal, or they could hire a nuisance wildlife control operator. If the raccoon is still there...I'd try the board first. It's the cheapest and less stressful option for all involved. Don't hover once the board is in the dumpster. The animal will be more likely to come out if there aren't a lot of people standing around. Good luck.