Friendships formed against the odds are the strongest of all.

Image credit: Texas Fawn and Friends

Coyote and badger. Orphaned baby rhino and zebra. Unlikely animal friendships are nothing short of amazing, and now can witness another special one between two creatures that are again very different – a raccoon and a fawn.

Raccoons, mischievous and entertaining with their thieving habits and adorable looks, may tempt you with their cute faces and fluffy bodies, but be cautious. On the other hand, fawns are ethereal, elegant, and seem like they belong in a paradise garden. But how did these two vastly different beings form such a strong bond? Well, here’s their story.

Image credit: Texas Fawn and Friends

In 2021, Carrie Long, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who specializes in rescuing orphaned deer as part of her nonprofit Texas Fawn and Friends, received a distress call regarding a young raccoon in need of assistance. The three-week-old raccoon was found to be cold, wet, and hungry after being abandoned by its mother and struggling through a rainstorm.

Long rescued the raccoon, and despite initial uncertainties about its recovery, she managed to nurse the animal back to health, naming him Jasper. When Jasper reached maturity, he was free to leave but chose to remain by Long’s side.

Image credit: Texas Fawn and Friends

Having become a permanent member of the family, Jasper joined Long on her outdoor adventures and had the opportunity to interact with the fawns under her care. But out of all the deer he has encountered, Jasper has developed a special connection with one fawn in particular – Hope.

“Hope was a fawn that I received in that had [also] lost her mother,” Long explained to My Modern Met. “As time went on, Hope was released as she became old enough.” She was happy to stay close by in the yard, and Jasper could play with her when he went outside. “He loves playing with the dogs but he has so much fun with her, I guess because she’s larger than the dogs and he’s able to hold on to her!”

Image credit: Texas Fawn and Friends

“Jasper just loves her,” Long told The Dodo. “When he sees her, he runs to lick and love on her. It’s just the cutest thing.”

Hope might have different ideas about their friendship though. Long told Bored Panda that Jasper is just like “that irritating little brother that you have to put up with, but you really don’t want to.” The rescuer chuckled and commented that while Hope tries her best to tolerate Jasper, she is not as fond of him as Jasper is of her. “When he sees her he runs to her, jumps on her and she just deals with it. He loves to sit in front of her and lick her ears… it’s the funniest thing!”

Video credit: Texas Fawn and Friends

“Raccoons  bite when they play and he loves to just pounce on her! Why she allows it is way beyond me!” she continued. “He means no harm, but on occasion she will get enough of him and she will strike at him. She puts him in his place and he’s like, ‘oh, I’m sorry!’ and they will carry on!”

The two are in each other’s company every day without fail. And Hope is fond of Jasper too, after all. “In the evening, she comes and lays next to him. They’ve got a cool relationship going on,” Long added.

Image credit: Texas Fawn and Friends

Jasper and Hope are just two of the many animals that have received aid from Long and her organization, Texas Fawn and Friends. This year, Long anticipates caring for over 100 orphaned fawns who would have a low chance of survival without her intervention.