Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure

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Fast Facts:

With its distinctive mask and ringed tail, the raccoon looks deceptively cuddly.
Raccoon hides were once so prized that they were used as currency.
The Raccoon has very nimble fingers that can twist handles and open doors. They use them much as monkeys do.

Racoon

Scientific Name	Procyon lotor
Classification	Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Procyonidae
Status	Not listed
Range	United States and Canada
Habitat	Stream edges, open forests and coastal marshes
Diet	, they feed on fruits, nuts, insects, reptiles, garbage and crops
Size	Length: 18-30 inches with a tail 8-13 inches Weight: up to 46 pounds
Lifespan	10 yrs.
Location
Print Fact Sheet	Raccoon

Special Features

Raccoon's toes are long and widely spaced to help them climb.
Sometimes Raccoons will dip food in water to moisten the food. The wetting of their paws makes their hands more sensitive to touch so they can remove debris from the food.
Live in hollow trees or logs, or ground burrows dug by other animals.

Social Structure & Behavior

Solitary animals, Raccoons are very temperamental and will fight with its own family members. Nocturnal. They do not hibernate in the winter although they will sleep for several days during cold weather.

Reproduction:
Sexual maturity is 2 years for males and I year for females. Breeding season is winter. Gestation is 60-73 days resulting in a litter size is 1-7 kits.