Nearly 30 young raccoons have found themselves in the care of a Vancouver Island wildlife rescue organization this year, and raising the mischievous animals is proving to be no small task. MARS Wildlife Rescue says it has rescued and raised almost 30 raccoon kits so far in 2026, helping them develop skills they’ll eventually need when they return to the wild, including climbing and stealth. (MARS Wildlife Rescue)While raccoons can be messy and destructive in captivity, the rescue organization says the animals play an important ecological role in the wild. The large number of young raccoons in MARS’ care prompted questions online about why so many have apparently been separated from their mothers. “It’s illegal to separate mothers from kits when young.”