Species of the Month

This month’s Species of the Month is a rarity on this blog. It has no seasonal connection to anything that is happening right now. This little critter is chunky, cute, and will fight you. It’s one of closest neighbors but we hardly ever see it because it is mainly nocturnal. The raccoon lives among humans, eating our garbage and is generally considered a nuisance in spite of its cuteness.

Procyon lotor

Scientific name: Procyon lotor

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Range: Southern Canada to northern South America, introduced to Europe and Asia

Habitat: Woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, urban areas

Lifespan: 5 years on average, less than 2 years is the norm but may live to be 16

Diet: Omnivorous opportunist. The raccoon will eat just about anything from nuts, berries, and fruit to insects, rodents, and amphibians to garbage and roadkill.         

Predators: Coyotes, wolves, hawks, owls

Conservation Status: No special protection

Other Information: The raccoon will eat just about anything. The black eye mask is fitting, because its front feet function much like a little human hand, making it easier for these bandits to break into secured items than for most other animals. The raccoon is a good climber and can also swim if necessary. This little chunkster may be up to 50% body fat in the northern extremes of its range. They are normally solitary but babies (up to 7 in a litter) will live with mom until the end of their first winter. Babies are born blind. A male may spend a few weeks living with a female prior to mating. Raccoons do not hibernate, but during extended cold snaps they may sleep in as a way to conserve energy- a sort of mini-torpor. They are notorious carriers of rabies.  

This week’s information comes from University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Procyon_lotor/

Raccoon

Front footprint, hand-shaped

Raccoon scat, looks like cherry pits