Procyon lotor
Corel Photo Raccoons are large
mammals,
most often seen dead on roadsides or at night going through
garbage cans. They are shy creatures, active at
night. Raccoons are often
thought to be close relatives of weasels, but they are
actually more closely related to pandas. Their fur is grayish
brown with black markings. Raccoons are easily identified by
the black mask on the face and a bushy tail with four to six
black rings. Raccoons den in hollow
trees, fissures in rocks, caves, or burrows
(usually old fox, woodchuck or skunk burrow). They almost
always live near water. They will also move into a muskrat
house. Raccoons are
omnivorous
and eat almost anything, including: nuts, berries, acorns,
leaves, grasshoppers, crickets, grubs, worms,
dragonfly
larvae, clams,
wasps, salamanders, frogs, crayfish, snakes, turtles and
their eggs, bird eggs and nestlings, fish, voles, and
squirrels. They often eat garbage scraps and at times have
been seen eating dead animals on the sides of
roads.
Copyright, Robert Potts, California Academy of Sciences
Copyright,Gerald and Buff
Corsi, California Academy of Sciences Raccoons are very agile.
They climb trees well, moving forward or backward on their
way up or down the tree. They are one of few animals which
can descend a tree headfirst. They can also drop, unharmed,
35 to 40 feet. They are fast runners (15 mph) and excellent
swimmers. If cornered, raccoons are ferocious fighters and
can kill a dog. Raccoons are also know
for their excellent night vision and keen sense of
hearing. Young raccoons are preyed
upon by foxes, bobcats, owls, and eagles, but they most
commonly die from automobiles.
Dr. Lloyd Glen Ingles, California Academy of Sciences
