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raccoon

The Mischievous Raccoon

  • 27 August, 2019
  • Critter Man
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Daily Critter Facts

Occupying forests, deserts, urban, and rural areas, you’ve got a good chance at seeing a raccoon. The English word raccoon comes from the Powhatan word “aroughcun”, which translates to “animal that scratches with its hands.” The Aztecs also named the coon “mapachitli” which means “one who takes everything in its hands.” In Spanish “mapache” means “raccoon”. These critters are known for their dexterous abilities in being able to easily navigate garbage cans, earning them the nickname trash panda.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Procyon lotor
Weight: Up to 2- lbs.
Length: Up to 28 inches (plus their 16 inch tail)
Height: Up to 12 inches (at the shoulder)
Lifespan: Up to 4 years (in the wild) | Up to 20 years (in captivity)

Now on to the Facts!

1.) There are 6 known species of raccoon.

2.) The black marking on the eyes actually server a purpose. They help reduce glare, which allows them to see better at night.

3.) This sometimes invasive species is found worldwide, thanks to humans. People have brought them all over for the fur trade to exotic pets. They inevitably escaped and

4.) In contrast to other animal species, raccoons actually thrive even though their habitat is being destroyed. They are so adaptable that they can flourish in the human world.

5.) They are omnivores (eat plant and animal matter).

But wait, there’s more on the raccoon!

6.) Their menu consists of insects, small mammals, eggs, fruit, seeds, and garbage… of course.

7.) Raccoons are so resourceful that it is conceived that the the city dwelling coons are actually smarter than their forest dwelling counterparts.

Did you know…?
Their hands are so important to them that they actually use them as a secondary form of site and object detection.

8.) A testiment to their intellect comes in a test that scientists conducted that placed marshmallows in a jug of water. Stones were placed next to the jug. The raccoons were shown how to solve the puzzle of obtaining the treats by dropping the stones in the water to raise the level enabling them to grab the tasty confections. 2 of the 8 were able to repeat the example and 1 went a step further and just toppled the jug.

9.) Raccoons produce a wide variety of sounds like hissing, purring, whistling, growling, and more.

But wait, there’s even more on the raccoon!

10.) Be cautious in approaching one as these critters can transmit rabies to domestic animals and people! Their feces often contains roundworms too.

11.) A group of raccoons is called a gaze or a nursery.

12.) They are excellent climbers, as many people know. But did you know that they are also skilled swimmers?

Now a Short Raccoon Video!

Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here!

Be sure to share & comment below!

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Critter Man

With over 45 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

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