The story seemed destined to end in tragedy: A bleeding baby badger found huddled near her dead mother on the side of the road June 6. But after nearly two months at San Rafael’s WildCare, the newly healthy badger has been released into the wilderness, hale and hearty.

When the striking animal with the black-striped nose was carried into WildCare, shivering and barely conscious, “I almost didn’t take pictures of her,” because it seemed likely the badger would die, said WildCare spokeswoman Alison Hermance.

WildCare’s medical staff sprang into action, putting her on heat and oxygen and administering subcutaneous fluids. In case she had eaten rat poison, she was given Vitamin K. Because her nose was bleeding, she was given pain medicine and anti-inflammatories in case she’d been hit by a car; X-rays were inconclusive.

“Over the next two days, medical staff continued to give the badger subcutaneous fluids and medications. They offered her nutritious protein slurry through a tube in hopes she would eat,” Hermance said.

For the first two days, there was little improvement, “and her prognosis at this point was poor,” Hermance said.

But by the third day, the badger was grabbing bites of food offered via tweezers, and by Day Four, “the young animal’s return to health was exponential,” Hermance said.

Badgers are unusual patients at WildCare, Hermance said. The facility has only admitted seven of them since 2003. Often they have contracted canine distemper, which can be passed to wild populations by unvaccinated dogs; this badger tested negative for the disease.

After a stay at Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care in Bishop, the badger’s rehabilitation was complete. Secured in a carrying case and seat-belted in, she was taken to a 300-acre farm in the Tomales/Valley Ford area and released Sunday.

“WildCare Wildlife assistant Galen Groff carried the badger’s cage and Nat Smith, our registered veterinary technician, directed where to place it,” Hermance said.

“She (the badger) stepped out, sniffed, turned toward us, then headed off down the hill,” Hermance said. As the badger trundled along, she checked out gopher holes – a badger’s favorite food is gophers and there were plenty of them on the ranch hillside, the spokeswoman said.

“She will either make her home at the ranch, or find another site she likes better,” Hermance said. “We wish her luck.”