Raccoons
Raccoon Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Procyon
Species: Lotor
Scientific Name
Procyon Lotor
Conservation status
Least Concern
LIFE SPAN
2-3 years in the wild
up to 20 years in captivity
Body size
7-20 lbs
9-12 inches at the shoulder
Native habitat
The raccoon is native to North America, and while it’s original habitat consisted of woodlands, raccoons are now well adapted to living in urban and suburban areas. Raccoons are now invasive in Germany and Japan, their introduction to both of these places being caused by the release of raccoons being kept as pets.
Diet
Raccoons diet makes them one of the most omnivorous animals, due to it consisting of almost equal amounts of invertebrates, plant material, and vertebrates.
Rad Raccoon Facts!
Raccoons are excellent climbers, but are also great fallers! Raccoons can withstand a fall from 35 feet.
Raccoons have over 50 different sounds they use to communicate
Raccoons have four, or even five times more sensory cells in their hands compared to most other mammals.
Raccoons are closely related to bears. In the past, both red pandas and giant pandas were classified as Procyonids
Raccoons are known for their intelligence!
Studies have shown that raccoons are able to remember the solution to tasks for up to three years at least, and are ranked as the tenth smartest animal in the world.
Raccoons can also be rather social animals, sometimes living in sex specific groups with males living together. Female raccoons are have been known to have a common area with other females, but aren’t quite as friendly towards one another as males raccoons are. After mating season, unlike some other mammals like foxes, female raccoons will generally isolate themselves and raise their kits alone. Mother raccoons will care for their kits for up to a year in some instances, and will sometimes also accept abandoned kits if they come across them.
Raccoons live quite short lives in the wild, ranging from one to three years normally. It’s not uncommon for only half of the raccoon kits born to survive a full year. The biggest natural cause of death for raccoons is distemper, which can sometimes reach epidemic proportions. Predators of the raccoon are bobcats, coyotes, and humans, with humans being the cause of around 90% of all adult raccoons. Although raccoons don’t live long in the wild, pet raccoons can live up to 20 years in captivity!
Raccoons have a wide home range extending through all of North America. While they have thrived in sparsely wooded areas recently, raccoons depend on vertical structures to climb when they feel threatened. Because of that, they usually avoid open terrain and high concentrations of trees that are too smooth to climb. They generally sleep and make their dens in tree hollows in old trees and rock crevices, but if those are unavailable raccoons will use burrows dug by other mammals, dense undergrowth, and roadside culverts in urban areas.
Our Raccoons
