Both animals carry the same set of potential dangers regarding disease, but the raccoon is a bit more dangerous than the more passive behavior of the possum. Although classified as a carnivore, the raccoon is omnivorous, feeding on crayfish and other arthropods, rodents, frogs, and fruit and other plant matter, including crops. This period is the only time they pair up. Its grayish coat mostly consists of dense underfur , which insulates it against cold weather. In fact, when confronted by a dog, raccoons are notorious for laying on their back until the dogs face gets close. This is a serious parasite that can be transmitted to humans. Raccoons are native to North America, where they can be found almost anywhere, including Greenland. Raccoons can be a nuisance. Trapping a raccoon is a very common process. About Raccoons . The raccoon is a good swimmer and can stay in water for several hours. If, in an attempt to get rid of the raccoons, you get too close to the pups, the mother may attack you. These raccoon deterrents will help keep these pesky critters away from […] Records exist of raccoons weighing up to 40 pounds. A raccoon can run at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. In winter, raccoons spend a lot of time in their dens but never truly hibernate. The raccoon is a carnivore which enjoys catching lots of very small prey including insects, mice, birds and fish. However, if they are afraid or become angry, they can and will bite. People leave out food for pets, and it is easy for a raccoon to eat the food instead. We are the Recycling Raccoon Squad. If you’re being visited by raccoons on a regular basis, you might be wondering if there are ways to get rid of them without causing them harm. One interesting difference in tactile sense between raccoons and primates is the raccoon's lack of papillary ridges. Raccoon breaks into Toronto "raccoon proof" green bin by Breakfast Television Toronto on YouTube. Raccoons may explore or attempt to live in crawl spaces and sometimes use them as dens in which to bear and raise their young. So the majority of a pet raccoon's time should be spent roaming your house, playing, climbing on things, exploring, and being mischievous. Raccoons tend to walk on all fours, but can use their front paws to perform extremely dexterous tasks. Raccoons are more closely related to otters and weasels than pandas, and it is believed that pandas and raccoons shared their last common ancestor about 40 million years ago. Watch as wild raccoons that move into urban areas seeking food and shelter are humanely evicted by researchers. There are no formulated raccoon diets that are pre-made and ready for you to purchase so it can be difficult to provide a proper, well-balanced diet for your pet raccoon. However, individuals this heavy are extremely rare in the wild. They are curious, mischievous, playful, and get into everything. Bandit-masked raccoons are a familiar sight just about everywhere, because they will eat just about anything. Check and see if it is legal to keep a racoon as a pet in your state. They are also quite adept at getting into garbage cans and making a … Like their cousins, raccoons are true omnivores who eat a wide variety of foods, including nuts, seeds, fruits, eggs, insects, frogs, and crayfish. You’ll usually find raccoon droppings in the garden, near your trash cans, in your yard, on a raised horizontal surface like a log, or around a tree. (We’ll handle that last one if you want.) See more. Although raccoons are not usually aggressive animals, under certain conditions, raccoons have been known to attack cats. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of 40 to 70 cm (16 to 28 in), and a body weight of 5 to 26 kg (11 to 57 lb). Raccoons range in length from 28 to 38 inches, which includes a 10-inch tail, and weigh 10 to 30 pounds. Unlike wild raccoons, urban raccoons do not have to do too much to get their food. They have a gestation period of 9 weeks and can give birth to up to 7 babies at once. The Raccoon: Fresh raccoon dung is a dark brown and moist, while after sitting out in the sun is actually white and dry. The raccoon (/ r ə ˈ k uː n / or US: / r æ ˈ k uː n / , Procyon lotor) is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. Raccoons share a common ancestry with bears, and they originally lived in forests close to waterways. Pet raccoons eat quite a variety of foods. Using its sharp teeth and claws, a raccoon can easy injure a dog that ventures too close. Racoons can make good pets but keeping them in a cage would be wrong. Our mission is to help Michigan recycle better, smarter, more efficiently and more adorably. Be sure to have your racoon get shots since they can get rabies and other diseases. Raccoons are prone to chewing on cords, climbing on shelves, and knocking down valuables. While raccoons can carry rabies in most areas foxes, bats and skunks are the primary vectors. The first raccoons were exported to Europe in the 1920s to stock fur farms.By way of an accidental bombing and some bored farmers just wanting to spice up the local wildlife, many raccoons … For this reason, if raccoons are around your yard or inside your house, it is always a good idea to ask for the intervention of a raccoon removal expert like Get Raccoons Out. raccoons. Don’t handle raccoon manure as they often have baylisascaris or raccoon roundworm. Another reference is a standard chimney tile since raccoons find … Like all raccoons, the North American raccoon is an intelligent and inquisitive animal. Racoon definition is - a small nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) of North America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and … Raccoons defecate in a communal area called a latrine. That means your home must be raccoon-proofed. Raccoon Repellent: Natural Home Recipes - Raccoons are drawn to areas populated by humans because of the abundant food supply. They are solitary except when they have a litter. They can become very attached to their owners and spend long periods of time snuggling. Location: Raccoons have adapted to humans in cities and suburbs by using residences and buildings as spaces for living and feeding. There is a great true kids story called Rascal. Unlike possums, raccoons can be quite savage at the slightest threat or infringement upon their personal space. Raccoons make very interesting pets. Streams and ponds are ideal, but in urban and suburban situations raccoons will make use of fountains, backyard pools and koi ponds. However, raccoons are too active to be content in a cage for several hours. However, raccoons often use both hands, rather than one, to grasp, and they exhibit little independent movement of their digits [source: Pubols, Pubols and Munger]. Raccoons may look cute and even pitiful at times, but they do pose a threat. While the raccoon’s feces do look somewhat similar to a dog’s, it is easy to tell them apart by looking at the contents, since the raccoons have a completely different diet. Males are generally larger and heavier than females. They are basically nocturnal, though they do sometimes come out in the daytime to search for food. Apparently wood duck fanciers have trouble keeping raccoons out of their houses. Your cat has an innate hunting instinct as well, and might unwittingly lure the raccoon into a fight. Sure, they’re cute as babies, but once baby raccoons grow up to be adults, they can quickly become a headache for homeowners. Raccoon Habitat. A raccoon’s fur is long, soft and colored a grizzled black-brown. Raccoon definition, a nocturnal omnivore, Procyon lotor, the largest member of the family Procyonidae, having a masklike black stripe across the eyes, a sharp snout, a bushy, ringed tail, and very dexterous front paws, native to North and Central America and introduced elsewhere for its valuable fur: more than 20 subspecies have been named. If a raccoon leaves manure then use a plastic bag to pick it up and dispose of it. Problems that can occur include the accumulation of raccoon waste in latrines and structural damage as, for example, when insulation is pulled down. Raccoon feces is dark in color, two to three inches long, and with a tubular shape. They’re found living inside chimneys and rake through siding and shingles to enter houses and set up a den in attics. Raccoon Droppings. Overall, this means that panda bears and raccoons are not closely related to each other, but did share a common ancestor 40 million years ago, and are therefore related by 40 million years of evolution. The Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus), also known as the tanuki (Japanese: タヌキ or 狸; pronounced ), is a subspecies of the Asian raccoon dog.. Raccoons can be remarkably affectionate. From a distance a raccoon can appear friendly, almost like a small teddy bear but once cornered or caged, a raccoon is a fierce fighter. Raccoons have distinctive black masks and ringed tails, making them easy to identify. Raccoon droppings are easy to recognize. The book said to use the dimensions for the entrance to a wood duck house, but turn the ellipse side ways. Recently, perhaps due to the exotic pet trade or stowaways, raccoons have begun to colonize parts of Europe and Japan. They forage in garbage, can carry diseases, and if you spot one on your property, you might want to get rid of it. By being potential rabies virus-carriers, they are a danger to you, your family, and your pets. To accomplish our mission, we have created a … These masked bandits can make a mess of your trash cans, dig up gardens and cause general mischief at night. Tree branches that reach close to your roof may even serve as easy access for the spaces above your ceiling. Raccoons are wild animals, and cats, to them, may look like prey. Raccoons are rarely found denning more than a few hundred yards from some constant source of water. Raccoons mate between January and June. Wild raccoons are usually leaner than urban raccoons. Say hello to the Recycling Raccoon Squad Hey, neighbor! There have also been accounts of abandoned baby raccoons or young raccoons being good pets, but adult raccoons becoming mean. 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