Two months ago, as Mr. Beasley drove along a highway in Virginia, he noticed a small, furry lump at the edge of the road — something others had likely passed by without a second glance.
But something about it didn’t sit right with him, so he pulled over to take a closer look.
That decision changed everything.
Lying there was an injured raccoon, unable to move. Concerned for her safety, Mr. Beasley called Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge (EWR) for help and stayed by the raccoon’s side until rescuers arrived.
“Others must’ve seen her lying there,” EWR later wrote on Facebook, “but one person chose to act.”
Once at the rescue center, the team named the raccoon Beasley — in honor of her kindhearted rescuer — and began treating her immediately. It appeared she’d been hit by a car.
One of her eyes was severely damaged, and her arm possibly broken. She couldn’t stand or move properly, but her new caretakers were determined to help her heal.
EWR administered medications to ease her pain and prevent infection. As days passed, Beasley began to show signs of recovery — and an unexpected change: her belly started to grow.
A sonogram taken upon arrival hadn’t revealed any babies, so the team assumed she wasn’t pregnant. But Beasley had one more surprise in store.
“While recovering, she shocked us all by giving birth to three babies on Easter,” EWR wrote.
Her pregnancy had been too early to detect during the initial scan, and her birth came as a complete surprise. While EWR normally moves expectant raccoons into outdoor enclosures for privacy and comfort, they hadn't had the chance with Beasley.
Now a fiercely protective mother, Beasley quickly shifted into full maternal mode. Though she became more defensive — as many new moms do — the team gently relocated her and her tiny pups to an outdoor enclosure where she could raise them in peace.
Beasley’s story could have ended by the side of that highway. Instead, she’s now raising her babies in a safe, supportive space, cared for by a team that believes in second chances.
“She and her babies will stay with us until the little ones are old enough,” EWR said. “In the wild, raccoon moms often stay with their young for up to a year.”
Thanks to the compassion of a single passerby, Beasley and her pups have the time they need to grow strong — and one day, return home to the wild where they belong.
To help animals like Beasley get the care they need, you can donate to Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge here.
