Raccoon

Common Raccoon (or Racoon)
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Procyonidae
Genus:	Procyon
Species:	P. lotor
Binomial name
Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Raccoon native range in red, feral range in blue.
Synonyms
Ursus lotor Linnaeus, 1758

The Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor), also known as the Northern Raccoon, Raccoon, or Coon, is a widespread, medium-sized, omnivorous mammal native to North America.

Since the 20^th century, raccoons have also become widespread on the European mainland and in the Caucasuses, after escaping from fur farms. Raccoons usually live together in small, loose groups. Their original habitats are Mixed or Deciduous forests, but due to their adaptability, they are often found in urban areas.

At one time, raccoons were aggressively trapped for their fur. Populations suffered greatly but have recovered. In popular culture, American frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett were often portrayed wearing coonskin hats. It is unlikely, however, that either of them actually wore coonskin caps.

Appearance

Close-up of a raccoons face

Adult weights vary with habitat, but an average is about 5.5 to 9.5 kg (12 to 21 pounds), the largest recorded being over 28 kg (61 pounds) . They have black facial colorings around the eyes, and have a bushy tail with light and dark alternating rings. The coat is a mixture of gray, brown, and black fur. On rare occasions, raccoons may be albino. Currently there is a search under way to validate sightings of half albino raccoons. These sightings have occurred in Indiana, specifically the West Lafayette region. The dark patches around the eyes, perhaps the raccoon's most prominent trait, are reminiscent of a "bandit's mask," which has enhanced its reputation for mischief, vandalism, and thievery.

Raccoons have 40 teeth, which are adapted to an omnivorous lifestyle. The chewing surface is not as wide as for herbivores, but the teeth are not as sharp and pointed as those of a carnivore.

Behavior

Raccoons are omnivorous, eating berries, insects, eggs and small animals. Raccoons sometimes wash, or douse, their food in water before eating it. It is unknown why raccoons perform dousing, but cleaning food is unlikely to be the reason. Studies have found that raccoons engage in dousing motions when water is unavailable; researchers note that captive raccoons are more likely than wild raccoons to douse food. It has been suggested that captive raccoons are mimicking fishing and shellfish-foraging behaviors. It may also be that the raccoon is searching for unwanted material, as water is thought to heighten their sense of touch.

Common raccoons

As city dwellers in the United States and Canada increasingly move into primary or second homes in former rural areas, raccoons are often considered pests because they forage in trash receptacles or eat dog food left on back porches. They are able to open garbage cans with their thumbs (which are not opposable). Raccoons also pose a serious risk to any household pet within their vicinity, it is not uncommon at all for a raccoon to seriously injure, kill or eat cats and small dogs. The raccoon has also adapted well to city life, and in cities such as Toronto the raccoon is, after the grey squirrel, the most common urban pest.

Introduced into Germany in the 19th century, raccoons seeking food in wine cellars and storage areas have become a threat to the country's wine industry. Beginning in April 1934 raccoons, which were being commercially farmed in Germany for their then-fashionable fur, were experimentally released into the wild in the Kellerwald range. Population growth greatly accelerated in 1945 when disruption of the infrastructure led to numerous raccoons escaping from farms across Germany. Because they seemed to have minimal impact on forest ecology, raccoons were a protected species. Lately, however, the population density in some regions may have reached 100 raccoons per square kilometer and hunters have been offered rewards to cull the animals.

Mating

Mating usually occurs in January or February, and a litter of four or five young are born in April or May (varies by climate). Raccoons usually live in hollow trees, ground burrows, or caves. They often travel along streams or rivers in search of food. However, there are raccoons that live in the forest not near any stream. Males have no part in raising the young. By late summer, the litter will be weaned and will begin to fend for themselves. In severe winter climates, raccoons may become dormant but do not hibernate. Not all sleep in the morning.

Range

Track

Raccoons are common throughout North America from southern Canada to Panama. Raccoons are one of the largest animals to have adapted well to human development. Suburban areas, and many large cities, have significant raccoon populations. Raccoons are skilled foragers who can thrive on garbage and pet food. They have been known to take up residence in attics and garages, and even to enter houses through "pet doors" in search of food. When confronted by humans or household animals, raccoons may be aggressive, but urban raccoons tend to lose their fear of humans over time, which generally manifests as an attitude of "if you don't bother me, I won't bother you." A good example of this can be seen if a glass windowpane ever separates human and city-dwelling raccoon. As often as not, the raccoon's response will be indifference or even curiosity, even while under direct observation.

Two raccoons in captivity congregate at a water source.

In 1934, Hermann Goering, then head of the Reich Forestry Office, gave permission for the release of a pair of raccoons into the German wilderness to "enrich the Reich's fauna." The raccoons have since been extremely successful due to the lack of natural enemies. Others are believed to have escaped from fur farms during Allied bombing in World War II. The German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reported in 2002 that the raccoon had established itself in a small area of north-central France and in a considerable area of central Germany, where it had become a neighborhood pest to some and a beloved pet to others.

While raccoons held in captivity can live up to 20 years, they seldom live longer than 12 years in the wild, with most only living a few years. It is not unusual that only half of all males born survive the first year, with a life expectancy of only about 1.3 to 3.1 years. Illnesses, accidents, and the death of the mother are the most common causes of death for young raccoons. For adult raccoons, traffic incidents and hunting account for more than 75% of deaths. In the 1980s in the United States, nearly five million raccoons were shot every year.

Disease

Raccoon as depicted on a shell drawing from the pre-Columbian civilization at Spiro Mounds

Raccoons can carry Baylisascaris roundworm, canine distemper, parvovirus and rabies. Of the 6,844 documented rabies cases reported in the United States in 2004, 37.5% were in raccoons (Krebs et al. 2005, pp. 1912–1925). Seeing a raccoon during the day is an indicator, though not absolute, that the animal may be ill. However, healthy animals, especially nursing mothers, may also forage for food in the daytime. Rabies may be entirely without visible symptoms in the raccoon.

Raccoon rabies is as dangerous to humans as any other strain, even though there is only one documented case in which it has led to a fatal case of human rabies . Any animal with suspected rabies should not be approached. If it requires killing, the local health department should be notified to obtain instructions on means of disposal. Blood, feces and other bodily fluids may carry the rabies virus. Many communities have animal control officers who can deal with rabid animals.

Rabies is so prevalent in some populations of wild raccoons that several states and the US federal government, as well as authorities in Canada, have developed programs of oral vaccination to try to reduce the spread of this lethal disease.

Raccoons as food

Raccoons were a source of food for early American pioneers, providing a sizeable amount of protein. Nowadays, people generally don’t consider raccoon desirable. It is, however, a good tasting meat for some hunters, and is still eaten and prepared in certain regions of the American South.

An older edition of The Joy of Cooking has a recipe for preparing raccoon, along with squirrel, opossum, and other game animals. It is suggested that removing the musk glands and the fat before roasting (a favored cooking method) will help tone down the strong game flavor. It is also suggested that sweet potatoes are complimentary with the raccoon’s meat (which is dark) as either a stuffing or side dish.

The limited interest in eating raccoon is most likely attributed to the emotive association people have with the animal; being intelligent and adaptable. Its reputaion as a scavenger is also a common factor with people (see Taboo food and drink).

Raccoons as pets

In most states of the United States it is illegal to keep raccoons as pets (see rabies). Some states allow the practice, but require exotic pet permits. Wild, young orphan raccoons may carry rabies. Domesticated raccoons acquired from reputable breeders may make suitable pets; however, raccoons are not technically domesticated animals. Training raccoons is an intensive and ongoing process. Many captive raccoons may retain destructive or aggressive natural behaviors, such as biting. Some douse their food in or defecate into the water dishes of other pets. Although nocturnal, captive raccoons can be trained to sleep at night and to be active during the day.

Captive raccoons can develop obesity and other disorders due to unnatural diet and lack of exercise; furthermore, many veterinarians may not treat raccoons. Raccoons raised in captivity and released do not adapt well to life outside.

Raccoons in Popular Culture

• Happy Tree Friends features two raccoon brothers who steal things.
• In Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, Roger S. Huxley is a Menodix, said to be descended from raccoons.
• Over the Hedge has a raccoon as the main character.
• Pocahontas has a raccoon as a character.
• In the anime Candy Candy, the title character, Candy White Ardlay, has a pet raccoon, who is often her only friend in her numerous times of sorrow. His name in the English versions of the series is Clynn.
• "The Kissing Hand" a book about a raccoon who gets a special kiss from his mom when he goes to school.
• There are video games in which raccoons also make their appearance:
  • Sly Raccoon (The main character is a raccoon)
  • Super Mario Brothers 3, you can change into a tanuki, which physically resembles a raccoon and is translated "raccoon" in the English version of the game, when you have obtained a leaf.
  • Animal Crossing: Wild World The shopkeeper Tom Nook is a raccoon. In the original Japanese version his name is Tanuki, which is translated as "raccoon".
• The Great Outdoors, a movie starring John Candy and Dan Ackroyd, features a gang of clever raccoons who consistently try to raid the family's garbage.

References

• Template:Harvard reference.
• Davidson, Alan (1999). "Raccoon". Oxford Companion to Food. p. 648. ISBN 0-19-211579-0.

See also

• List of fictional raccoons
• The Raccoons

External links

• Raccoon Tracks information, accounts, and images
• range of raccoon populations, Missouri Botanical Garden
• Feature Creatures: Raccoon University of Alberta Museum of Zoology
• Remo Raccoon's Home Page
• Nazi Raccoons On The March In Europe article about history of raccoon introduction in Germany
• Raccoon entry on Encyclopedia.comTemplate:Link FA Template:Link FA