Advice: trapped raccoon

[Guest guest]

On an internal mailing list at work, there's an active discussion going

on about a raccoon that was trapped by a person, for it was destroying

his garden. SETTING ASIDE the issues about why it was trapped in the

first place, I'm seeking advice from people about what to do about the

raccoon.

 

My suggestion was to take the raccoon and set him free in a nearby

public park. But some people are claiming that doing so is illegal

under California law. I don't think so, but I have to convince the

trapper that his best (and legal) recourse is to set the poor thing

free. The other option (that is being suggested) is to kill it, which

I would like to avoid.

 

So: does anyone have some experience in this situation?

Time is of the essence, because the poor thing will probably die from

stress if nothing is done soon.

 

Ajay