A rare bald raccoon is in the care of a Nova Scotia shelter, where staff hope she含羞草研究社檒l grow her fur coat 含羞草研究社� 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 children含羞草研究社檚 television show 含羞草研究社淜im Possible.含羞草研究社�

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 Rufus含羞草研究社檚 lack of fur 含羞草研究社� a condition she refers to as alopecia 含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社渄own and out upon arrival含羞草研究社� to showing her dexterity by carefully removing plastic duct covers and scurrying through the ductwork in the building.

含羞草研究社淲e were panicking for a few short hours 含羞草研究社� but she got hungry and came out. She含羞草研究社檚 getting quite feisty and we含羞草研究社檝e seen a big improvement since she first arrived,含羞草研究社� said the shelter director.

Swinimer has been providing care to injured or ailing wildlife for over 30 years and says while she含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just tufts of fur around the snout, ankles and feet. This is a severe case,含羞草研究社� said Swinimer.

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

含羞草研究社淚f they don含羞草研究社檛 have that nice fur coat, they won含羞草研究社檛 survive. If compromised, they含羞草研究社檒l succumb to frostbite.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚t will include fun things she wouldn含羞草研究社檛 have in the wild, such as hammocks and nesting boxes,含羞草研究社� she added.

Swinimer said there are many things that can be learned from such cases. For example, if Rufus含羞草研究社檚 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 that含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淲e do so much damage to our natural world it含羞草研究社檚 good to be able to give back and do whatever we can, for whatever the reason,含羞草研究社� Swinimer said.