Orphaned Coati Kits
Two young coati kits were recently found alone, with no sign of their mother or troop nearby. After the finder unsuccessfully waited to see if the family would return, the siblings were brought to Tucson Wildlife Center for care and evaluation. One of the kits had a tooth abscess that was draining through her cheek, which was promptly treated by our veterinary team. Aside from that injury, both were in good health.
While the wound healed, the kits were introduced to a special feeder designed here at TWC years ago and built by one of our volunteers. This feeder holds a bottle in a way that simulates their mother, allowing the babies to nurse with minimal human contact. This invention has helped raise many young animals at our Center—including orphaned javelinas, bobcats, and now coatis—and remains one of the best tools we have for preventing human imprinting in nursing wildlife.
Now that the wound has fully healed, the siblings are being raised alongside other coatis their age. By limiting human interaction and growing up in the company of their own kind, these youngsters will have the best chance to develop the skills they need to thrive once released back into the wild.
Fun facts: As omnivores, coatis eat fruits, seeds, insects, and small animals, dispersing seeds and acting as “gardeners of the Sonoran Desert.” Their highly flexible ankles—a trait shared with other members of the Procyonidae family, such as raccoons—allow them to descend trees headfirst and maneuver efficiently while foraging. If you would like to help patients like these coati kits, click this link to donate,
Another way you can contribute is to visit our “wish list” on Amazon or Chewy below:
We appreciate it, as will all the wild animals in our care!
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