A growl was heard by two men who were working in an abandoned house in Ambergris Caye, Belize, recently. The workmen, taken aback, glanced up to see an ancient couch move. Because the house was located in a swampy and damp region, the men believed it might be a crocodile and phoned Aces Wildlife Rescue for assistance.

Rescuers discovered the noise was coming from a much smaller animal rather than a crocodile when they arrived.

“As much as they don’t sound alike, you might mistakenly believe it to be a croc if you’re in an area where crocs are possible and you’re afraid of them and you hear a growl right behind you,” an Aces spokesman told The Dodo.

It was a raccoon mother attempting to keep her young safe.

Raccoon peering into a pail
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The mother raccoon had already left the couch when rescuers got close because she was afraid of the people. Still, she was close by, waiting for the chance to be reunited with her children.

The rescuers were fully prepared.

Aces said on Facebook, “We put the babies in a tub and stood back to let mama come and retrieve all three and carry them off one by one.”

A raccoon tending to babies
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The mother raccoon moved each of her offspring to a secret spot nearby, reaching carefully into the tub.

The Aces representative stated, “She was outside the window before we’d even placed the box down.” “She disappeared for ten minutes, and I have no idea where she took them, but she came back to get the next one and the one after that.”

raccoons snatching young
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A video of the raccoon snatching her young was posted by Aces here:

When you observe a raccoon or any other wild animal in need, you should definitely call for professional assistance, the Aces spokesperson emphasized.

The agent advised calling a professional and considering the needs of the animal.

Given how devoted to their families raccoons are, it was particularly satisfying that the mother in this instance could return to her young.

Aces wrote, “She was such a good mama.” “In this case, getting them back together with her is the best outcome one could hope for.”