HISTORY OF GREENWOOD

How Greenwood Got Its Name

His life began in a similar fashion as most raccoon's do: he lived in a dark quiet nest snuggled with his siblings. His mother was the sole provider for the family, sleeping and nursing her young during the day and hunting for food at night. He and his siblings lived a carefree happy existence, as all infants should. The raccoon family did not anticipate the tragic event that would threaten one young coon's existence and alter the rest of the family's lives. The mother raccoon had made one vital mistake when she chose the den location to raise her young: she had made her nest in the chimney of a house. One afternoon the mother was startled awake by intense heat and smoke that burned in her throat and eyes. In a panic, she carried her young outside one by one. Upon returning for the last cub she found the entrance from the chimney top was blocked. The frantic mother could not reach her cub although she could hear his frightened cries for help. She had no choice but to leave him and find shelter for the remainder of her family before predators discovered them.

Several days had passed since the human family had built the fire to drive away the raccoons and then placed a grate over the chimney to prevent them from returning. Still, they continued to hear occasional scratching sounds and began to suspect a baby raccoon remained in the chimney. They pulled the young raccoon from his dark refuge screaming, clawing, and certain his life was about to end.

The baby raccoon arrived at the Boulder County Humane Society in a state of terror. His emaciated frame was covered in sooty singed fur that smelled of musky burned rope. He stood quivering, the pads of his burned feet raw and bloody. He was truly a pathetic sight with his huge unfocused gaze. The woman carefully inspected her new patient tenderly, slowly and quietly. She cleaned him up, dressed his wounds and placed him in a soft, warm, dark kennel where he could rest quietly and come to terms with his latest predicament. The woman felt great empathy and her heart swelled heavily when she thought of his traumatized appearance and what had caused it.

As time passed the young raccoon accepted his new provider and teacher. He felt safe, ate very well and spent quite a lot of time romping, playing, and of course exploring. A seemingly good life for a young raccoon, but something was missing. As the young coon grew into an adolescent he began to have mixed feelings toward the woman, including aggression. The woman still fed him and cared for him, but she discouraged more and more of the physical contact that had become so comforting in his infancy. Finally, one day the woman placed him in a kennel. She drove him to a beautiful meadow with a stream, trees, and many other intriguing features. The woman opened the kennel door and the young raccoon ran out into a plethora of sights and smells that overwhelmed his senses. He turned to her as if to ask a question, but she said nothing. Grown and free to follow his instincts, Greenwood made his way into the forest.

The Facts

The previous story is a fictional account of the true story of a young raccoon who became the first animal successfully rehabilitated and released by the wildlife section of the Boulder County Humane Society in 1982. The young raccoon was named "Greenwood" during his rehabilitation because "green wood doesn't burn". In celebration of his recovery and release the Center changed its name to Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Since then, Greenwood has successfully treated and released thousands of animals. Greenwood was formally incorporated in March 1993 and is licensed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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