Definition of raccoon
The raccoon (Raccoon or Ringtail) is a mammal, (1) and it belongs to the genus (Procyon), and its scientific name is (Procyon lotor).
Physical characteristics of a raccoon
The raccoon is considered a round animal, and it has a thick tail, and the area of the eyes is covered with black fur. As for the size of the large raccoon, it is the size of small dogs, and in general, the weight of the raccoon ranges on average from 1.8 to 10.4 kg, and its length is from 60 to 95 cm.
Raccoon diet
The raccoon is classified as a carnivore; Because it feeds on crayfish, frogs, and many other aquatic creatures, in addition to eating mice and insects after drawing them from their hiding places, and taking eggs from their nests. (2) Despite this, the raccoon also feeds on fruits and plants found in human gardens and farms, and it can eat The garbage cans contain food, and it uses its front feet and long toes to find a wide variety of foods that it enjoys eating. (2)
Raccoon breeding season
A male raccoon mates with more than one female at the beginning of spring and at the end of spring; Exactly 60 to 73 days after pregnancy, the females give birth to 1-6 babies each year, usually 3 to 4 babies, and the mother takes care of her young for about 12 months, although she is weaned and becomes able to hunt after about two months. (1)
Raccoon life span
Raccoons raised by humans live for up to 20 years, but in the wild they live for 5 years at most. (1)
Raccoon habitat
Raccoons live in North America, Central America, Europe and Japan; Because of its great adaptability, it is considered capable of living in many climates and habitats, (3) wild raccoon is found in forest and grassland habitats, and it is also found near water due to its ability to swim skillfully. (1) and raccoon is able to live well with the presence of Human ; So it can be seen in towns and cities; And because food is the basis for him; So it often likes to be in big cities, (1) and the raccoon builds its home called a den in many places, including trees, caves, barns, abandoned vehicles or other human-created sites. (3)
Raccoon behavioral characteristics
Here are the most prominent behavioral characteristics of the raccoon
night activity
The raccoon is an animal that is active at night and sleeps during the day. So he is not very social, and he tends to sleep more during the winter season, but without going into hibernation, and during the winter he also lives on the fat stored in his body; So he loses about 50% of his weight. (3)
cleanliness
The raccoon is considered a very clean animal; He washes his food in streams before eating it, and digs latrines in the places he visits regularly. (3)
Swimming and climbing skills
The raccoon is a good swimmer and can climb easily; He climbs the banks of rivers, trees or tree trunks, and dwellings abandoned by the beaver. (1)