A rare bald raccoon is in the care of a Nova Scotia shelter, where staff hope sheB次元官网网址檒l grow her fur coat B次元官网网址� including a bandit-like, black streak across her eyes.

Hope Swinimer, the director of Hope for Wildlife, says the furless mammal has been named Rufus after a naked, squeaky mole-rat character in the childrenB次元官网网址檚 television show B次元官网网址淜im Possible.B次元官网网址�

It turned out after closer examination Rufus is in fact female, but the name has remained as the pink-hued raccoon is proving to have an entertaining character in keeping with her cartoon namesake.

A couple in West Arichat discovered the shivering, three-kilogram female in their backyard last week and brought her to a Cape Breton veterinary clinic, where she received fluids before being sent to the wildlife shelter in Seaforth, N.S.

Swinimer says skin tests have determined RufusB次元官网网址檚 lack of fur B次元官网网址� a condition she refers to as alopecia B次元官网网址� may be a genetic condition rather than the result of parasites or other causes.

The shelter director says that with good food and living conditions, the hope is for Rufus to gradually grow back her fur and be released back into the wild.

If that proves impossible, however, she says the shelter may provide Rufus with an enclosed, outdoor habitat with her own hut.

In the meantime, the raccoon has gone from being B次元官网网址渄own and out upon arrivalB次元官网网址� to showing her dexterity by carefully removing plastic duct covers and scurrying through the ductwork in the building.

B次元官网网址淲e were panicking for a few short hours B次元官网网址� but she got hungry and came out. SheB次元官网网址檚 getting quite feisty and weB次元官网网址檝e seen a big improvement since she first arrived,B次元官网网址� said the shelter director.

Swinimer has been providing care to injured or ailing wildlife for over 30 years and says while sheB次元官网网址檚 seen earlier cases of alopecia in raccoons, Rufus is the most extreme example.

She said in the past when raccoons have lacked hair, they at least had their distinctive facial patterns across the eyes, but Rufus is even bald in that area.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just tufts of fur around the snout, ankles and feet. This is a severe case,B次元官网网址� said Swinimer.

The case highlights the crucial nature of fur and feathers to wild animals, she explained.

B次元官网网址淚f they donB次元官网网址檛 have that nice fur coat, they wonB次元官网网址檛 survive. If compromised, theyB次元官网网址檒l succumb to frostbite.B次元官网网址�

Several of the animals that have become permanent residents of the shelter, which currently has 250 occupants, have had special habitats created for them.

That includes a 10-metre long space with a view of the ocean for Edward the bald eagle, who after surgery never regained the ability to fly more than a short distance. There is also a visually impaired fox that lives in a small, outdoor enclosure.

If Rufus moves in permanently, her outdoor home will include trees, mulch and a space to crawl into and keep warm, said Swinimer.

B次元官网网址淚t will include fun things she wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have in the wild, such as hammocks and nesting boxes,B次元官网网址� she added.

Swinimer said there are many things that can be learned from such cases. For example, if RufusB次元官网网址檚 fur does grow back, that could mean there is something in the environment causing the loss that could be investigated.

And for those who wonder why her centre would assist an injured or sick animal thatB次元官网网址檚 not an endangered species, the shelter director said her policy is not to discriminate.

Most of the animals that come to the shelter have been injured by humans, and the staff provide care regardless of whether they are rare species.

B次元官网网址淲e do so much damage to our natural world itB次元官网网址檚 good to be able to give back and do whatever we can, for whatever the reason,B次元官网网址� Swinimer said.