Raccoon

The common name "raccoon" comes from the Indian word "arakum" or "aracoun," meaning "he scratches with his hands." Adult raccoons may be up to 3 feet long and weigh up to 30 pounds. Raccoons have a black face mask and ringed tail. Their fur is long and dense, a grizzled brown and black color that has often been described as "salt and pepper." Although raccoons are flesh eaters and have long canine teeth, their molar teeth are adapted for a varied diet which includes more than just meat. The raccoon's closest relatives are ring tails and coatis from the Southwest.

Raccoons are inquisitive and seldom pass up the opportunity to investigate an interesting smell or crevice. They probe a crack with their front feet and pull anything of interest from its hole for closer inspection.

Raccoons are usually found near trees because they are adapted to life in the forest. They are agile climbers and have nimble feet, but they are flat-footed like humans and bears and are slow runners. Using their sensitive front feet, they catch prey in and around water, and use their front feet to hold it while they eat. Raccoons also have well developed senses of sight, hearing and smell.
 
 Raccoons are found across most of North America. They have long been common in the eastern United States, but less so in western states. In the 1940s, a continent wide population explosion occurred as raccoons expanded their range and increased in abundance. There were at least 15 times more raccoons in North American in the 1980s than in the 1930s.

Raccoons are primarily forest inhabitants and most trees in Texas grow near water, so raccoons are usually associated with rivers and streams (riparian areas). Ideal raccoon habitat is a well timbered area containing  large, mature trees and including a combination of grain crops and water.

Raccoons are among the most intelligent of wild animals. They are most active at night and their nightly travels depend upon where food is available and the prevailing weather conditions. The home range of an adult male is about one mile in diameter, although it expands in size during the breeding season. Adult females and their young inhabit smaller areas, and one male's home range often overlaps several females' home ranges. Adult males tend to be solitary, but family groups are quite
social and will feed and den together into the fall. As family units disband, raccoons become increasingly solitary. Juveniles leave the area where they were born between the fall and spring of their first year and may travel 75 miles or more before settling in a new location.

Raccoons do not construct their own den sites, but rely on natural processes or the work of other animals. Traditionally, it was thought that raccoons primarily used hollow trees for winter den and spring birthing sites. Hollow trees are important, but studies show that raccoons will den in abandoned buildings, old beaver lodges or bank dens, car bodies, wood piles, abandoned fox and coyote dens.

Raccoons do not hibernate, but remain inactive for extended periods during severe winter weather.  They will use communal or group dens during winter storms. A raccoon uses several dens within its home range. On summer days, it spends much of its time on the ground or sprawled on a large tree limb.

Depending on seasonal needs, most foraging is done in or near water or around the edges of cornfields. A raccoon hunts in shallow water by turning over rocks and limbs, and probing and grabbing with its front feet. It examines potential food items by manipulating them with its front feet and touching them with its nose.
Raccoons are omnivorous (they eat both animals and plants) and opportunistic; their diet is dictated by seasonal protein and energy needs and food availability. In spring, females feed primarily on high protein animal matter to insure development and growth of their young. Crayfish, insects, birds, eggs, fish and young rabbits are eaten when available. Later in the summer, after the young are weaned, the female's protein requirements are greatly reduced, allowing her to take advantage of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Raccoons sometimes prey upon the nests of ground nesting birds such as ducks, turkeys and Quail. They also prey on the nests of cavity nesting birds such as bluebirds. However, predation is among the checks and balances of life in the wild. Severe predation is usually a symptom of other problems, such as a lack
of suitable nesting habitat.

With the cooler temperatures of fall, raccoons feed intensively to build fat reserves for winter. Energy rich foods including nuts and grain (such as corn) and high protein foods are pursued at this time. In winter, raccoons feed on waste grain, carrion and assorted small animals and insects, but rely on fat reserves to sustain them during long periods of inactivity.

Breeding occurs between January and March, and peaks in February. Raccoons pair only to mate, and do not form long term pair bonds. Males will mate with more than one female and do not share in the rearing of young. Pregnancy lasts about nine weeks, and the young are weaned at seven to 10 weeks. The young begin to accompany their mother on excursions by early June.