Raccoon
The Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a medium-sized mammal characterized by its black mask and tail with 5 to 8 rings. The name "Raccoon" is an adaptation of the native Powhatan word meaning "animal that scratches with its hands." The latin name, "lotor" means "washer" and refers to the behavior that the Raccoon sometimes exhibits of "washing" its food prior to eating it. One common misconception is that they wet their food because they don't have salivary glands, but this is actually a myth as they have very well developed glands. It is believed that Raccoons are not really washing their food, but are actually examining it as it is easier for them to do so under water.
The Raccoon's fur is a mixture of gray, brown, and/or reddish-black forming a mottled color that helps it to blend more easily into the forest. The Raccoon typically weighs between 15 and 20 pounds, but there have been records indicating that they can weigh as much as 40 pounds. The male Raccoon is referred to as a boar, while the female is known as a sow. The young are referred to as kits. The males are slightly larger than the females.
The Raccoon hand looks a little like that of a human, but it does not have an opposable thumb like that of humans, meaning that they cannot fold their thumbs across their palms. The Raccoon is good with their hands and highly intelligent, making them identified as pests in many neighborhoods. They can easily open latches, doorknobs, garbage cans, and other enclosures, and have good memories for what they have learned.
Studies have shown that a Raccoon can remember solutions to tasks for up to 3 years. Their sense of touch is very good, and their front paws are very sensitive, becoming more sensitive underwater. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs, which causes them to appear hunched when they walk or run.
The life span of the Raccoon in the wild is approximately 2 to 3 years. The mating season occurs between January and June. The females reach sexual maturity at around one year old, and typically give birth to 2 to 5 kits. The gestation period is 65 days. The mother Raccoon usually separates from other Raccoons to raise her young, and the male does not participate in rearing the young. The kits stay with their mother until they are 13 to 14 months of age.
One interesting fact is that mothers will often relocate the kits after the first few weeks of birth to a new den, which can lead to people sometimes finding young Raccoons seemingly abandoned with no sign of the mother around. The mother will return later to finish moving the young once a suitable new location has been found. If a baby Raccoon is found during the day, it is best to leave it where it is found as the mother may be in the process of moving it, and will return for it after dark.
It is believed that Procyon lotor were originally found in the tropics, along riverbanks and streams, but they moved north up the continent over time and adapted to new territories and new diets with relative ease. They are believed to be the same species as many other species of Raccoons found in Mexico, Barbados, the Bahamas, and the French Antilles.
It is believed that they first kept to the forests as they moved northward, but they have been able to expand their habitat into a wide range including mountainous terrain to urban areas. They are now found as far north as Alaska and southern Canada. They traditionally live in tree cavities or burrows and come out at dusk to hunt frogs and crustaceans. They are mostly nocturnal. They are considered omnivores and will eat a variety of plant foods, vertebrates, invertebrates, trash, and carrion depending on their habitat.
The Raccoon does not hibernate in the winter, but is able to sleep in its den for several weeks. They can run quite quickly - up to 15 miles per hour. They are very good swimmers.
The Raccoon's fur is a mixture of gray, brown, and/or reddish-black forming a mottled color that helps it to blend more easily into the forest. The Raccoon typically weighs between 15 and 20 pounds, but there have been records indicating that they can weigh as much as 40 pounds. The male Raccoon is referred to as a boar, while the female is known as a sow. The young are referred to as kits. The males are slightly larger than the females.
The Raccoon hand looks a little like that of a human, but it does not have an opposable thumb like that of humans, meaning that they cannot fold their thumbs across their palms. The Raccoon is good with their hands and highly intelligent, making them identified as pests in many neighborhoods. They can easily open latches, doorknobs, garbage cans, and other enclosures, and have good memories for what they have learned.
Studies have shown that a Raccoon can remember solutions to tasks for up to 3 years. Their sense of touch is very good, and their front paws are very sensitive, becoming more sensitive underwater. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs, which causes them to appear hunched when they walk or run.
The life span of the Raccoon in the wild is approximately 2 to 3 years. The mating season occurs between January and June. The females reach sexual maturity at around one year old, and typically give birth to 2 to 5 kits. The gestation period is 65 days. The mother Raccoon usually separates from other Raccoons to raise her young, and the male does not participate in rearing the young. The kits stay with their mother until they are 13 to 14 months of age.
One interesting fact is that mothers will often relocate the kits after the first few weeks of birth to a new den, which can lead to people sometimes finding young Raccoons seemingly abandoned with no sign of the mother around. The mother will return later to finish moving the young once a suitable new location has been found. If a baby Raccoon is found during the day, it is best to leave it where it is found as the mother may be in the process of moving it, and will return for it after dark.
It is believed that Procyon lotor were originally found in the tropics, along riverbanks and streams, but they moved north up the continent over time and adapted to new territories and new diets with relative ease. They are believed to be the same species as many other species of Raccoons found in Mexico, Barbados, the Bahamas, and the French Antilles.
It is believed that they first kept to the forests as they moved northward, but they have been able to expand their habitat into a wide range including mountainous terrain to urban areas. They are now found as far north as Alaska and southern Canada. They traditionally live in tree cavities or burrows and come out at dusk to hunt frogs and crustaceans. They are mostly nocturnal. They are considered omnivores and will eat a variety of plant foods, vertebrates, invertebrates, trash, and carrion depending on their habitat.
The Raccoon does not hibernate in the winter, but is able to sleep in its den for several weeks. They can run quite quickly - up to 15 miles per hour. They are very good swimmers.