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Raccoon Biology
Scientific Name: Sciurus
carolinensis pennsylvanicus
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| Appearance: |
Raccoons most noticeable characteristics are the black
"bandit" face
mask and its dark and light ringed bushy tail. Most raccoons in the
northeast
are a greyish-brown color mixed with darker colored guard hairs
producing
a mottled overall appearance. Raccoons have 40 teeth, including 4
elongated
sharp canine teeth. The hind legs of the raccoon are longer than the
front
legs, giving them a hunched appearance as they walk or run. There are
five
toes on each foot with the front feet being dexterous which allows the
raccoon the ability to grasp and clutch items. Raccoon weights vary
from
region to region. Most adult male raccoons in northern states weigh
15-18
with females averaging 2-3 pounds less. Occasional specimens in
northern
states may weigh 30 pounds. |
Breeding
Information: |
Breeding seasons for raccoons are usually in January in
southern states,
and February in the middle and northern states. Young males are evicted
from the dens at this time and mature male raccoons search out all
available
females . Female raccoons are capable of breeding at 10 months of age,
but males do not breed until their second year of life. Gestation is
usually
63 days, and 2-4 young are common in southern states. Litters of 4-6
are
more common in northern states. The young raccoons are cared for solely
by the mothers and mother raccoons are aggressive in the protection of
their young. Ten years of age is considered old for a wild
raccoon. |
| Activity |
Year around and are nocturnal emerging from there dens
at dusk and
return by dawn. Contrary to common beliefs raccoons do not hibernate,
however
during extreme weather they may stay in dens for weeks at a time using
up stored body fats. |
| Diet: |
Raccoons eat a wide variety of foods and store up
layers of fat during
the fall to prepare for winter. Raccoons are opportunists,
commonly eating whatever is available. Important foods include
crayfish,
mussels, clams, frogs, salamanders, earthworms, grubs, fruits, nuts,
grains,
carrion, eggs, and any available warm blooded small mammals or birds.
Preferred
foods may include fish and sweet corn. Raccoons have a sweet tooth and
can be caught using Marshmallows or Jelly bread. They frequent garbage
cans and dumpsters. |
| Distribution: |
Raccoons are found throughout the fifty states. |
| Damage: |
Raccoons nest in the eaves of homes and commercial
buildings,
inside attics, under crawl spaces and inside chimneys. They can
also
cause major structural damage. Raccoons are known to tear through
roofing,
siding and screened vents to enter attics and eaves. Raccoons
love
to dig up our beautiful lawns in search of earthworms and grubs. |
| Diseases: |
Several diseases afflict coons, including both canine
and feline distemper.
Raccoons occasionally carry leptospirosis, which can be transmitted to
humans via biting. Rabies is also a problem in raccoons and this
species
is the leading carrier of this dreaded disease in some eastern and
southeastern
states. Parasites infecting coons include roundworms, flatworms,
tapeworms,
mange causing mites, lice and fleas. |
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