Earlier this year, Long Island wildlife rescuer Karenlynn Stracher received a call about an injured raccoon roaming the streets and lawns of her neighborhood.

Worried about the animal, Stracher went to the scene.

Since the raccoon belonged to someone, Stracher rang the doorbell and asked if she could look around. The homeowner knew exactly who Stracher was talking about. The homeowner said the raccoon’s name was Emeril and she had seen it on and off the property for years. He wasn’t necessarily sick, she said, just old.

The rescuer was stunned. According to Stracher, most animals born in the wild do not survive their first year. Raccoons that make it through their first year have an average lifespan of only 2 to 3 years. However, Emeril is much older.

“From the way he looked, it looked like he was twice his age,” Stracher told The Dodo. “He defied the odds exponentially.”

Although not sick, Emeril suffers from arthritis and cataracts due to old age. Stracher continued to check on Emeril, worried about his health. Meanwhile, she began receiving more calls from community members who had discovered Emeril and were worried he was injured. It’s no wonder these callers were confused – many of them had never seen an older panda before.

“Each time, I reassured the caller that he was healthy and well taken care of, just that he was very old,” Stracher said. “However, one of those callers told me that [Emeril] was a few blocks away from where he lived, in a parking lot just off a busy main road.”

This time, Stracher stuffed Emeril into a truck to keep him out of traffic. Before long, Stracher and other community members agreed that it would be best for Emeril to live out her golden years in a safe, enclosed yard with an animal lover guided by professional help. Stracher’s subject.

Later, Stracher goes to check on Emeril. Looking into his lair, Stracher was pleased to see the old man living his best life. Furthermore, he clearly has the vivacity of a much younger panda.

“It was the middle of the day and he was fast asleep in the house,” Stracher said. “He wasn’t very happy to be bothered. He let out a powerful roar and moved much faster than I expected an old man to do. My landlord and I were happy to see him being so aggressive and protective! Would you be the same if someone startled you in the middle of the night?”