Raccoon               

Introduction

Raccoons have a brownish-black "face mask" and alternating black and white ringed tail. They 28-38 inches long, and weigh about 48 lbs, with males being substantially heavier than females. They prefer mature woodlands and wetlands, which provide abundant food sources and shelter. They frequently live in hollow trees. Due to an omnivorous nature, raccoons have invaded most habitats including agricultural fields and urban areas, and are often considered to be pests. Field crops such as corn are a favored food, and turtle-nest depredation can be a severe problem on barrier islands. The average life expectancy of raccoons is 3-5 years in the wild and they can live about 14 years in captivity.

Food Habits

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders. They prefer birds eggs and vegetation such as fruits, nuts, and berries. They have a habit of washing their food. Actually, they are feeling for inedible matter in the food and wetting their paws to enhance their sense of touch. Raccoons tend to feed in small groups at night.

Family Life

Raccoons are monogamous and breed primarily in late winter (January and February) after their first or second year. Following a gestation period of approximately 2 months, females give birth in April or May to a litter of two to four pups in a hollow den tree. Female raccoons wean their young at 16 weeks and continue to care for them for approximately 9 months. By autumn, the family grouping of mother and cubs generally disperses. Females mature at 1 year and will leave to establish their own dens. Males, which mature after 2 years, may share a den with the mother until forced out in favor of a male suitor.

Winter Habits

Raccoons are not as active in winter as they are in other seasons. They build up some fat reserves in fall which enable them to stay in their dens during deep snow or very cold winter. They may switch dens as they travel foraging for food. They spend some of the warmer days of winter resting high in branches of trees.

Threats

In addition to disease, predation is an important population control. Predators such as great horned owls take juvenile raccoons. At one time they were hunted, now they are abundant.

Benefits

Problems and Solutions

Raccoons have invaded most habitats including agricultural fields and urban areas, and are often considered to be pests. They can also carry rabies. They can kill small dogs and cats. If you are having a problem with raccoons, you can use a repellent, such as coyote urine.