A raccoon in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is recovering at a wildlife hospital after an arrow passed

A miraculous escape for a Plymouth raccoon

A raccoon in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is recovering at a wildlife hospital after an arrow passed entirely through her face. The animal, described as “very feisty” by medical staff, survived a traumatic injury that narrowly missed her eyes and skull, according to a report from Popular Science.

The rescue was not an immediate success. After a local resident spotted the injured animal and alerted the Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable, the center advised contacting local animal control to manage the mobile, injured raccoon. It took Plymouth animal control approximately one week to finally capture the animal, Hoodline reported.

Medical intervention at Cape Wildlife Center

Once the raccoon was secured, the veterinary team at the Cape Wildlife Center had to manage her high level of agitation. Dr. Priya Patel, the center’s medical director and a wildlife veterinarian, decided to sedate the raccoon while she was still in her cage to minimize stress and ensure the safety of the staff, Popular Science reported.

The true extent of the injury became clear only after the animal was sedated. X-ray images revealed that the arrow—which may have been a mini crossbow arrow—had entered through the raccoon’s face and exited through the back of her head. Despite the severity of the wound, the arrow did not fracture her skull or penetrate her sinus cavity or eyes.

Plymouth raccoon found with arrow through her face recovers at cape wildlife center — Photo: hoodline.com

“We were able to quickly assess that there was no major structural damage to her, and then we were able to remove it,” Patel explained, noting that the team cleaned the wound, applied antibiotic ointment, and began a course of medication.

The raccoon remains under care at the center. While the team intends to return her to the wild once her wounds have healed and her antibiotic treatment is complete, Hoodline noted that a specific release date has not yet been confirmed.

Local hunting regulations and wildlife management

The circumstances surrounding the injury remain unclear. While the source of the arrow has not been identified, the incident occurs within the context of established hunting seasons in Massachusetts. According to state hunting regulations, the raccoon and opossum season for 2026 ran from January 1 to January 31 and resumed in October 2026 through the end of the year.

The Town of Plymouth does not have specific bylaws regulating hunting, meaning state rules and regulations apply to the area. The town’s guidance does not specify whether or where bows or crossbows may be legally discharged within its limits, leaving the exact nature of how the raccoon was struck an open question.

Instagram

This incident follows a pattern of wildlife challenges facing the Cape Cod area. In August, emergency personnel in Bourne rescued a young raccoon that had become wedged in a storm drain grate, an event reported by Boston.com and Yahoo News. In that instance, staff at the Cape Wildlife Center used canola oil and plastic bags to free the animal in roughly 10 minutes.

For residents in the Plymouth area, the town advises that anyone spotting injured wildlife should contact the Animal Control office. The office evaluates the animals and, if necessary, arranges transport to the Cape Wildlife Center, which serves as the primary nearby facility for such specialized care.