Raccoons
- Classification: Order: Carnivora; Family: Procyonidae; Species: Procyon
lotor
- Other Names: Raccoon; little bandit
- Appearance: Raccoons are gray-brown with a distinctive black mask
around their eyes and a bushy tail with anywhere between four and ten black
rings. Their forepaws are much like human hands in dexterity and
shape. Length ranges from 60 to 105cm and the tail makes up 42% to 52%
of their length. Raccoons weigh, on average, six or seven kilograms.
- Life Span: Raccoons generally live from seven to ten years.
- Diet: Despite their classification as carnivores, raccoons are
opportunistic omnivores and eat almost anything. They'll devour
various plants, from fruits to nuts, including wild grapes, cherries,
apples, persimmons, berries, and acorns, peaches, plums, figs, citrus
fruits, watermelons, beech nuts, and walnuts. They also enjoy
crayfish, insects, rodents, frogs, and bird eggs, and will often rummage
around in humans' trash and sometimes even eat roadkill.
- Habitat: Raccoons prefer to live in woodlands near water, but are
found in farmland, urban, and suburban areas as well. They usually den
in trees, but will also inhabit woodchuck burrows, caves, mine shafts,
deserted buildings, barns, garages, rain sewers, or houses.
- Typical Personality: Raccoons are normally solitary, but temporary
mated pairs occasionally form and last for a couple of months, until the
mother has her kits. They are very intelligent and curious.
- Habits: Raccoons are excellent climbers and strong swimmers, though
they prefer not to swim unless they have to. They rarely travel any
farther than necessary. They are nocturnal, with excellent night
vision.
- Life Cycle: Usually, a raccoon female only has one litter a year of
anywhere between one to eight young, though usually she will only have three
or four ktis in a litter. The kits are weaned at two or three months
of age but will stay with their mother for up to a year.
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