Baby raccoons rely on their mother for a long time. They wean gradually after about 12 weeks in the wild, but remain with her for close to a year, and den with her over their first winter. So, a fluffy little 8 week old, eyes-open baby, although mobile, is still totally dependent., We treat quite a lot of raccoons every year, and the majority of them come to us as small babies. When treating a baby raccoon, there are four very important things to keep in mind., Around 12 weeks old, baby raccoons are ready to leave the nest and strike out on their own. At this age, they have gained independence from their mother and have developed the skills needed to find food, build dens, and survive outdoors., Raccoons are born with their eyes shut and can't see until they are 23 days old. They are entirely dependent on their mother at birth and for the first few weeks after., Determining the age of a baby raccoon can be essential for wildlife rehabilitators, researchers, or anyone who encounters a young raccoon in need of assistance. In this article, we’ll explore the key indicators that can help you estimate the age of a baby raccoon., Discover how to accurately determine the age of baby raccoons in this insightful article! Learn about their key developmental stages—from the vulnerable newborns to energetic juveniles—and the physical and behavioral traits to observe..