Raccoon
Raccoon Facts
Size | 16-27 inches (40-70 cm) |
Speed | Up to 15 mph (24 km/h) |
Weight | 11-26 pounds (5-12 kg) |
Lifespan | 2-3 years |
Food | Insects, rodents, worms, fruit, nuts, eggs |
Predators | Lynxes, foxes, wolves, cougars |
Habitat | America, Europe, Asia, Russia |
Order | Carnivore |
Family | Procyonidae |
Scientific name | Procyon lotor |
Characteristics | Small predator with a black “mask” and ringed tail |
Main Characteristics
Raccoons are predators. Their most striking features are their “robber's mask”, their long, flexible fingers and their bushy, ringed tail. They're very intelligent and skilled. They're more related to dogs than cats.
Name
The Native Americans called the raccoon Arakun, which means „the one who scratches with its hands”. Its paws and their ability to feel are very important to them. In fact, the sense of touch is the most crucial sense for them.
Species
There are three species: the North American raccoon, the South American crab-eating raccoon and the Caribbean Cozumel raccoon. The North American one lives in Europe - because it was introduced by humans and released into the wild.
Distribution and Habitat
Raccoons live in America, Europe, Asia, Russia and the Caribbean. They prefer forests and the proximity of bodies of water as a habitat.
Way of Life
Raccoons are primarily active during the evening and nighttime hours. They usually lead solitary lives and establish territories that they mark and protect. However, when food is abundant in a particular area, they may occasionally allow one another to share the space for eating and resting.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Raccoons have a body length of 16-27 inches (40-70 cm) and a weight of 11-26 pounds (5-12 kg).
Physique
Raccoons have a long snout, a broad head and round ears. Their backs curve because their hind legs are longer than their front legs.
The “Robber's Mask”
Raccoons look like little bandits. However, they don't rob banks - at least that's not what we've heard yet. The black mask around their eyes reduces glare from incoming light. Meerkats use the same trick.
Fingers
Raccoons have highly sensitive paws with five long, flexible fingers, allowing them to easily solve puzzles, and pick locks.
Tail
Raccoons possess a tail that measures 8-15 inches (20-40 cm) in length, featuring black and gray stripes.
Raccoon or Opossum – What’s the Difference?
Raccoons are often mistaken for opossums. They have a similar body size, but are completely different species and aren't closely related. Opossums are marsupials.
Is the Raccoon a Rodent?
Young raccoons are frequently mistaken for big rodents like rats. They share several behaviors, such as rummaging through trash cans, sneaking into homes, and leaving droppings behind. However, you can easily distinguish them by their tails. Unlike rats, which have thin, smooth tails, raccoons have fluffy, bushy tails.
Diet
Raccoons are omnivores. They feed on insects, small rodents, worms, fruits, nuts, fish, amphibians and eggs. They prefer a balanced diet: They eat a mix of one third invertebrates, one third plants, and one third vertebrates. In spring they focus on protein and in autumn on high-calorie food - to have energy for the winter. They also eat cat or dog food and rummage through trash cans for leftover food.
Behavior
Do Raccoons Wash Their Food?
For a long time, people believed that raccoons wash their food or soak it with water if it is too dry for them. Actually, you can observe this behavior in zoos. However, they only do it because they are locked up and bored.
Raccoons “See” With Their Fingers
Raccoons are known for their curious nature, often inspecting everything they find with their fingers. They manipulate and examine each object, making it seem as if they are giving it a good wash.
Hibernation
In cold regions, raccoons stay in their den during the winter. However, they don't enter a state of „true“ hibernation, but they sleep and rest a lot. Before the cold months approach, they consume large quantities of food, increasing their body weight by as much as 50%. The heaviest raccoon ever put on a scale weighed 62.6 pounds (28.4 kg). This is about as much as eight male cats, even though the species are about the same size.
Sounds
Raccoons produce a variety of sounds. Sometimes they purr like cats, then they hiss, whistle or growl. They also hum, hiss, screech and whine.
Senses and Abilities
Sense of Touch
Raccoons experience two thirds of their world through their paws. They contain 4-5 times as many sensory cells as the rest of their body.
Dexterity
Raccoons are so skillful with their fingers that they can untie knotted shoelaces, open cages, steal coins from shirt pockets or even turn screw-nuts. No one and nothing is safe from them.
Swimming
Raccoons love water. They can swim, but don't do it very often.
Climbing
Raccoons love to relax in trees and are excellent climbers. Their sharp claws allow them to grip the bark securely and hoist themselves up with ease.
Jumping
Raccoons can jump 40 feet (12 meters) down from a tree without hurting themselves.
Intelligence
Brain
Raccoons have a similar ratio of brain cells to brain size as primates. Scientists say they aren't quite as intelligent as primates, but more intelligent than pets. They are really smart, which helps them adapt easily and handle new situations fast.
Memory
Raccoons have a great memory, are exceptionally adaptable and pick up things extremely fast. Once they grasp something, they don't forget the solution to the problem easily. They remember it for at least three years.
Puzzle Solving
Behavioral scientist H. B. Davis took some raccoons and let them open complicated locks. They did their job just as well as rhesus monkeys. They successfully unlocked 11 of 13 locks in under ten tries.
Counting
Raccoons can count up to three. While that may not seem very difficult, it actually indicates a high level of intelligence in the animal kingdom. Only chimpanzees, crows, rats, dogs, bees, and some ants and fish share this ability.
Raccoons, People and Pets
Are Raccoons Dangerous?
Raccoons can be very annoying when they enter homes in search of food and wreak havoc. However, they aren't dangerous. They don't attack people unless they threaten them. This can result in them scratching and biting – and transmitting rabies in the process. It's important to remember that raccoons are wild creatures with unpredictable behaviors, so it's best to avoid bothering or trying to touch them.
How to Ward Off a Raccoon
Raccoons look cute and harmless, but they are very confident animals. When they feel threatened, they don't run away but bite or scratch. The easiest way to scare them away is by making yourself appear larger and shouting loudly.
Do Raccoons Kill Dogs and Cats?
Raccoons are often drawn to homes that have pets nearby. They enjoy the food meant for the pets. If the front or patio door is frequently left open, or if pets are fed outdoors, they will take advantage of the opportunity to snatch a delicious treat. Usually, they avoid encounters with domestic animals, but dogs tend to hunt raccoons because of their instincts. This can lead to serious injuries and infections with viruses and bacteria. Cats and raccoons mostly ignore each other.
Do Raccoons Kill Chickens and Rabbits?
Yes, that can happen. Raccoons also feed on small rodents and birds, so you should protect your chickens and rabbits from them.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons
Identifying Raccoon Poop
If someone discovers droppings in their garden, they would certainly want to identify which animal left them there. Raccoon droppings are usually very dark, tube-shaped, blunt-ended, and about one inch (2-3 cm) long. They look a bit like the poop of a small dog, for example a Chihuahua.
Identifying Raccoon Tracks
Raccoons are quite recognizable by their tracks. Their hind paws are long, while their front paws are shorter, creating distinct long and short prints in the soil. You can even see the impressions made by their slender fingers, which point forward and are spaced out. In general, the tracks tend to have a slight diagonal pattern.
Ultrasonic Devices and Vinegar
Raccoons can easily be driven away with ultrasonic devices. Most devices also emit a flashing light that scares them. They may also be repelled with the smell of vinegar. Placing a bowl of vinegar in the right corners can effectively help keep them away.
Life Expectancy
In the wild, raccoons live for 2-3 years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The raccoon's natural enemies include lynxes, foxes, wolves and cougars. Extreme weather conditions such as severe frost can also be dangerous for them.
Human Impact
The greatest danger to raccoons comes from humans. Many lose their lives in traffic accidents or fall victim to hunters.
Are Raccoons Endangered?
The North American and South American crab-eating raccoons aren't threatened, but the Cozumel raccoon is. The IUCN classifies it as “critically endangered.” It lives exclusively on the Caribbean island of Cozumel and is also called dwarf or pygmy raccoon.
Reproduction
Raccoons reproduce once a year, between February and June. The gestation period lasts about two months and the litter usually consists of 3-4 puppies. After 2-3 weeks they open their eyes, after 6-9 they leave the cave and after about 16 months they are independent. Then they go their own way.
Evolution and Origin
Originally, the raccoon was at home in Central and Northern America. From there it came to Europe by ship. On the 12th April 1934, the raccoon made history: Forest ranger Wilhelm Freiherr Sittich von Berlepsch (what a name!) released four raccoons at Edersee, Hesse, intending to „enrich“ the local fauna. There are now hundreds of thousands of raccoons residing in Germany, and they're currently classified as an invasive species.
Do Raccoons Make Good Pets?
Raccoons are incredibly cute and fluffy - and so cool because they're so intelligent! However, this doesn't mean they are good pets. They have a lot of energy and nothing is safe from them. They leave their droppings all over the place and may scratch or bite, posing a risk of spreading serious illnesses. In Germany, it's against the law to capture and keep a raccoon as a pet. There are also stringent regulations and permits required for those who wish to have them. In the United States, most states prohibit keeping raccoons, and where it is allowed, there are strict guidelines to follow.
Fun Facts
Raccoon Moon
Many Native American tales feature raccoons, as they are believed to have magical abilities due to their distinctive black "mask". The Sioux even call the moon in February “The Raccoon Moon.”
Sources:
- "Discrimination of the number three by a raccoon (Procyon lotor)" (https://link.springer.com)
- "Dogs Have the Most Neurons, Though Not the Largest Brain: Trade-Off between Body Mass and Number of Neurons in the Cerebral Cortex of Large Carnivoran Species" (https://www.frontiersin.org)
- "Environmental, individual and social traits of free-ranging raccoons influence performance in cognitive testing" (https://journals.biologists.com)
- "Wild raccoons demonstrate flexibility and individuality in innovative problem-solving" (https://royalsocietypublishing.org)
The Raccoon Is Related To:
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Shrew
- Eurasian Eagle Owl
- Eurasian Jay
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Hedgehog
- Hornet
- Long-Eared Owl
- Microbat
- Mole
- Mouse
- Rabbit
- Red Fox
- Red Squirrel
- Raccoon
- Wolf
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