A woman rescued a baby raccoon and nursed it back to health after discovering its mum has been hit and killed by a car.

After spotting a dead raccoon on a road Katelyn Lee, 25, kept hearing a crying sound for two days - but didn't think much of it.

Eventually she decided to investigate the noise - and found a baby raccoon crawling in a nearby driveway.

Without hesitation, she wrapped the kit in a towel and rushed out to buy formula and a bottle to care for it.

Katelyn, from East Rutherford, New Jersey, said: "I put two and two together and said 'Oh my god, that dead raccoon on the street is probably the mom!'"

"I didn't even hesitate to help her."

"I love animals and I could never leave a baby animal vulnerable and helpless."
I didn't think twice about taking her in."

Katelyn spent two days searching for a sanctuary that would take in the orphaned raccoon.

Animal control also warned her that the raccoon would be euthanized if taken in.

Eventually, a friend connected her to a wildlife sanctuary that specializes in caring for animals that can't return to the wild.

Katelyn said: "We called so many sanctuaries and they were all at full capacity."

"The sanctuary we found is on 86 acres of land, which is so amazing."

"They will, of course, give her the best possible life that she deserves."