Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Raccoons are nocturnal and seldom active in the daytime. During extremely cold, snowy periods raccoons have been observed sleeping for long periods at a time, but do not hibernate. Their metabolic rate and temperatures remain constant during these times and they live off of their fat reserves, potentially losing as much as 50% of their body weight. They are largely a solitary species. The only social groups of raccoons you will see would be a mother and her babies. Raccoons climb with great agility and are not bothered by a drop of 35 to 40 feet. As well as being excellent climbers, raccoons are strong swimmers, although they may be reluctant to do so.

Family:

Procyonidae (coatis, raccoons, and relatives)

Description:

The most distinguishable characteristics of the raccoon are its black mask across the eyes and bushy tail with anywhere from four to ten black rings. The forepaws resemble slender human hands and make the raccoon unusually dexterous. Both their forepaws and hind-paws have five toes. Coloration varies with habitat, but tends to range from grey to reddish brown to buff. Raccoons are stocky in build and generally weigh from 13 to 15 pounds.

Habitat:

Raccoons are extremely adaptable, and can be found in many kinds of habitats and easily living near humans. They require ready access to water. Raccoons prefer to live in moist woodland areas. However, they can also be found in farmlands, suburban, and urban areas. Raccoons can live in a wide variety of habitats from warm, tropical areas to cold grasslands.

Range:

Raccoons are found across southern Canada, throughout most of the United States, and into northern South America.

Diet:

They are omnivorous and opportunistic. In some habitats plants provide a larger percentage of a raccoon's diet than animals do. Raccoons consume more invertebrates than vertebrates. Raccoons have adapted to include trash and other food available in suburban and urban areas in their diet.

Breeding:

Raccoons generally have one litter per year. Litter sizes range from 3 to 7, but are typically 4. The gestation period is 63 to 65 days. Sexual maturity often occurs in females before they are one year old, and in males at two years. Mating season is from February through June, with most mating in March. Young are born blind and helpless in a tree den, their eyes open at 18 to 24 days of age, and they are weaned after 70 days.

Comments:

The hands of raccoons possess a bunch of nerves that act as taste buds and transmit the information to their brains. So, raccoons touch any food or item that they come in contact with before they eat it. The collective name for a group of raccoons is nursery or gaze.

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