Raccoon - Procyon lotor
Range: Raccoons are native to North and South America, ranging as far south as northern Argentina and as far north as southern Canada. The raccoon lives in wooded areas near water although it is very adaptable and is also found in suburbs and cities. It usually makes its den in a tree, but it may make its home in an abandoned woodchuck burrow, a cave, barn or sewer.
Anatomy: The raccoon is about 32 inches long including the tail and weighs 11 to 18 pounds. In the northern part of their range raccoons may weigh as much as 33 pounds. The raccoon has gray to brown fur, a black mask around its eyes with white fur around the mask, a stripe that runs from its forehead to its nose and white fur around its nose, a bushy, ringed tail and black paws with five toes. A raccoon’s paws look a little like human hands. The raccoon’s toes are flexible and it is very good at grabbing, pulling things apart and holding things. The raccoon is a very good climber and can go down a tree backwards or face first.
Behavior: The raccoon is mostly nocturnal and solitary except for mothers and their young. Raccoons do not hibernate in winter though they may spend more time in their dens, only coming out to forage for an hour or so each day. During spells of bitter cold or extremely harsh conditions, raccoons do not venture out of the den at all, burning calories from the extra weight they put on in the fall until the weather becomes more agreeable. The raccoons usually walks, but it can run at speeds of up to 15 miles an hour. It is a good swimmer and often hunts for food in the water. The raccoon makes a variety of vocalizations including hisses, whistles, screams, growls and snarls. Raccoons are omnivorous and eat a variety of foods, including frogs, fish, amphibians, shellfish, insects, birds, eggs, mice, carrion, berries, nuts, vegetation, insects, berries, corn, pet food, and human garbage.
Breeding: Mating season runs January through March. After a gestation period of 63 days, the female gives birth to a litter of between four to six young. At four to six weeks, the kits are able to stand, are weaned at 70 days then start to hunt between 9-12 weeks old. The kits may stay with their mother for up to a year.