The North American raccoon, scientifically known as Procyon lotor, has shown remarkable adaptability, leading to an increase in its population despite human encroachment and environmental destruction.
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(Photo: entm.purdue) |
Procyon lotor can thrive in various habitats, including forests, farms, suburbs, and urban areas. They are even found thriving in the wild within New York City, where instead of sleeping in trees, they opt for chimneys or storm drains.
Like many wild animals, they can be susceptible to rabies and leptospirosis, diseases that can also be transmitted to humans. If a Procyon lotor approaches humans directly, it may be a sign that the animal is ill and seeking assistance.
North American raccoons vary in size depending on their habitat: those in the northern regions tend to be larger than their southern counterparts. On average, their body length is about 60 cm, with tails measuring around 30 cm and weighing approximately 12 kg.
They are omnivorous, consuming both animal and plant matter, both on land and in water: frogs, fish, rodents, birds, turtle eggs, nuts, seeds, berries, and insects are all part of their diet. Due to the increasing destruction of their natural environment, they have adapted to living close to humans, often scavenging for human food. They are known to rummage through garbage cans for spoiled food and will even eat roadkill. This behavior sometimes leads to them being hit by vehicles, and when afflicted by rabies, they can easily become traffic victims.
They exhibit a particularly unusual habit: they wash their food before eating; if water is unavailable, they clean their food with their hands. Scientists believe they wash their food to remove bones or other sharp hazards. The scientific name “lotor” relates to the image of someone washing something.
Procyon lotor does not hibernate, but they do accumulate fat during the summer and fall to keep warm in winter. During freezing weather, they may sleep for several days, though this is not true hibernation.
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| (Photo: entm.purdue) |
They have a long, dense fur coat that is gray and black, with their tails featuring 5-7 black rings. Each paw has five toes with curved claws, and the soles of their feet are hairless. Their front limbs function like human hands, allowing them to grasp, feel, and manipulate objects. Their long, dexterous fingers enable them to open doors, untie knots, turn doorknobs, and even open bottle caps. The two black markings around their eyes give these curious and cunning animals a reputation, often portraying them as thieves in literature.
Male raccoons typically defend their territory and seek to prevent other raccoons from entering. They find mates in the spring and summer, although this can vary based on their location. Females give birth to one litter per year, with each litter consisting of 3-6 young. The gestation period lasts about 36 days. Young raccoons open their eyes at three weeks old, venture outside with their mother at two months, and stay with her until autumn. Females reach maturity at about one year, while males mature around two years.
Father raccoons do not care for the young and may even attack them, necessitating the mother’s role in driving the father away to protect the offspring.
North American raccoons are excellent climbers and can survive falls from heights of up to 13 meters. They are also strong swimmers, only entering the water when necessary. When needed, they can run at speeds of approximately 24 km/h, although they are not particularly mobile. Typically, they move on all fours and can stand upright to observe their surroundings.
(Photo: pelotes.jea)
This unusual species is primarily nocturnal and prefers solitude over living in groups. They are typically only seen in groups when a mother raccoon is caring for her young. They rarely venture out during the day, often causing damage to fruit trees and crops at night.
Many people keep young raccoons as pets, but adult raccoons can be quite aggressive when cornered. Some dog breeds may overpower adult North American raccoons, but in water, dogs can also become victims of these cunning animals.
The lifespan of Procyon lotor is around 20 years. Historically, they were found primarily from southern Canada to Panama, but they have now been introduced to Europe and Asia by humans.
