Raccoon

The common raccoon Procyon lotor is probably best known for its mischievous-looking face mask. The name raccoon is derived from the Algonquian Indian word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hand." The species name, lotor, refers to the raccoon's supposed habit of washing food with its front paws. This activity, however, is probably associated with the location and capture of aquatic prey such as crayfish. The behaviour is no doubt innate, because captive raccoons have been observed attempting to "wash" their food in the absence of water.

Distribution

Six species of raccoons occur in North, Central, and South America as well as on some of the Caribbean Islands. However, Procyon lotor is found only in southern Canada, portions of the United States, and Central America. The species inhabits all provinces of Canada except Newfoundland and is gradually expanding its range northward as land is cleared for agricultural purposes. During the 1930s the raccoon was successfully introduced into Germany and the Soviet Union. Today, its range has expanded to include Luxembourg, West Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

Movements and home ranges of raccoons vary greatly depending on habitat, population density, and food supply. The home range is the area used by an animal for food, water, and shelter in its normal, day-to-day movements. In rural agricultural areas (eastern North America), home ranges between 1 and 4 km˛ are common, whereas in prairie habitat, areas as large as 50 km˛ have been used by raccoons. At the other extreme, the area utilized by urban raccoons has been documented at less than 0.1 km˛. Generally, home ranges of individual raccoons overlap, and there is little evidence of territoriality, especially in urban areas.

As with home ranges, raccoon densities vary significantly depending on the type of habitat. Estimates of 5– 10 raccoons per square kilometre are common in rural agricultural areas. In urban areas, exceptional numbers of raccoons as high as 100 per square kilometre have been recorded. However, densities as low as 1 per square kilometre may occur in prairie habitat.

Raccoons are able to live in a diversity of habitats. The only apparent requirements are a source of water, food, and a protected area for denning. The best habitats are hardwood swamps, floodplain forests, fresh- and saltwater marshes, and farmland, both cultivated and abandoned. On the prairies, raccoons are most abundant in woodlot and wetland areas. This highly adaptable animal is also very common in many cities of North America.

Description

Raccoons are usually a grizzled grey in color and have a conspicuous black face mask and a tail marked with 5– 10 alternating black and brown rings. Body coloration can vary from albino to melanistic (black) or brown. An annual moult of the fur begins in the spring and lasts about three months.

The head is broad with a pointed snout and short rounded ears (4– 6 cm). The eyes are black. Total body and tail length for adults averages 80 cm; males are generally 25 % larger than females. Raccoons in northern latitudes tend to be heavier (6– 8 kg) than their southern counterparts (4 kg). However, fall weights for adults have reached 28 kg in some areas. The life span of raccoons in the wild is estimated at 3– 5 years; most populations are completely replaced over 7 years. However, longevity records of 12 and 16 years have been noted in captivity and in the wild, respectively.

Diet

Raccoons are omnivorous and will consume practically any food item, plant or animal. Corn, crayfish, fruits, and nuts are preferred, but there is a seasonal shift in diet depending on availability of food items. During the spring, animal matter, including invertebrates and insects, makes up the major portion of the diet. Crayfish are preferred, but muskrats, squirrels, rabbits, waterfowl eggs, and freshwater clams are also consumed. In the summer, plant material, including fruits and nuts, becomes more important. Wild cherries, gooseberries, elderberries, wild grapes, strawberries, and garden items such as potatoes and sweet corn are relished. As well, crayfish, frogs, small fish, turtles, beetle grubs, grasshoppers, earthworms, crickets, and snails are eaten during the summer.

The fall diet is extremely important for raccoons in northern latitudes because sufficient fat reserves must be accumulated to sustain the animals during winter denning. Corn is the mainstay of the fall diet in most areas where it is available; however, acorns, beechnuts, hazelnuts, and grapes are also consumed. The nests of insects, including hornets, bumblebees, termites, and ants are raided mainly for the larvae; the thick fur that is characteristic of the raccoon's fall and winter coat protects it from the stings of irate adult hornets or bees. Fat is built up over the entire body and even around the tail bone and may be 2.5 cm thick on the back. In fact, by late fall about half of the animal's total body weight may be fat. In northern areas the raccoon lives on its stored body fat during the winter, but it continues to forage year-round farther south where nuts and corn are plentiful. In suburban areas, raccoons often raid garbage bins or forage earthworms, beetles, and grubs on residential lawns. Raccoons can also be a menace to farmers because they may eat domestic fowl and eggs.

Life history

In northern latitudes (northern U.S., southern Canada), the annual life cycle of raccoons consists of a breeding period during late winter and early spring, a growth and fattening period during the summer and fall, and a winter denning period. In more southern latitudes, winter denning occurs only during periods of inclement weather.

The breeding season generally begins in late January or early February in the northern parts of the raccoon's range. Mating tends to take place in March in most areas. Birth of offspring peaks during May, although births have been recorded as early as March or as late as September. Year-round breeding has been reported for raccoons in southern areas.

Male raccoons are polygamous or will mate with several females in succession. Females, however, are monogamous, and will mate with only one male and will not tolerate other males after mating has occurred. Juvenile females often breed during their first year. Juvenile males, although capable, usually do not have the opportunity to mate until their second year because of competition from adult male raccoons. Litter sizes tend to be larger in the northern part of the range. Between three and seven young per litter are common in northern latitudes; however, litters of two or three young are usually the rule in southern areas. The gestation period averages 63 days.

Raccoons are born without teeth and with eyes closed, and they weigh approximately 75 g. The eyes open at 2 weeks of age, and the teeth erupt at about 19 days. By about 10 days of age the young are already sporting the familiar facial mask and colour patterns typical of the species. The young remain in the maternity den for about eight weeks and then leave to forage with the female, although they are not fully weaned for almost two months. The adult male plays no role in raising the young.

The family group, which consists of the adult female and young, is quite sociable, foraging during the night and denning together during the day. The mother teaches her young to climb, hunt, and swim during their first summer. The family unit generally remains together until the adult female has her next litter, usually the following spring. Juvenile males often disperse from the adult females' home range, although juvenile females may remain within the vicinity of the mother's range.

In northern latitudes and during periods of inclement weather, raccoons den up for the winter. This allows conservation of energy (fat reserves) when food is not available. It is not hibernation, but a period of inactivity. The body temperature does not drop, and the animal's activity appears to be governed by the air temperature. Preferred denning sites include hollow trees, stumps, logs, caves, vacant groundhog or fox burrows, and buildings such as barns. In city areas, denning sites include residential chimneys, sewers, garages, attics, trees, and culverts. Adult males usually den solitarily, but the family unit often dens together during the first winter. Communal dens containing as many as 23 raccoons have been reported; however, 4 or 5 is the more common number. Although usually one den is used during the winter, several different dens are utilized for sanctuary during other seasons.

Limits to population

Humans are the major predator of the raccoon. They prize its fur and take between 2 and 4 million pelts annually in North America. As well, thousands of raccoons are killed by automobiles each year. Another major source of mortality is disease. Since 1983, several thousand raccoons have succumbed annually to rabies in the mid-Atlantic and southern United States. The disease is currently spreading north toward Canada. As well, thousands of raccoons die annually from canine distemper, particularly in eastern Canada and the United States. Parasites such as lice, fleas, and ticks are often found on raccoons, but do not appear to be a significant source of mortality.

Other predators of raccoons include pumas, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, dogs, wolves, Great Horned Owls, and fishers. However, they are only a minor source of mortality. Malnutrition and harsh winter weather play a greater role than they do in limiting raccoon populations, especially juvenile animals.

Although some records show that raccoons may be long-lived in the wild, many animals succumb during the first year of life to disease, starvation, wild predators, and trappers. In some areas annual mortality rates for raccoon populations have been estimated at 50-60%.

Relationship with people

Because the raccoon can be easily tamed when young, many people have had their lives enriched by a close association with this intelligent, inquisitive animal. Males, however, may become aggressive as they mature and usually end up being returned to the wild. The raccoon is one of the few creature that appears capable of making the adjustment from family pet back to wild animal.

For other people the raccoon is a wily and persistent pest. Raccoons often cause significant damage to agricultural crops such as corn and lesser damage in orchards, vineyards, melon patches, and poultry yards. They are considered undesirable in areas being managed for waterfowl or upland game birds because they destroy nests and eat young. In urban areas, considerable damage to residential roofs, garages, gardens, and lawns has been blamed on raccoons. Often the only solution is to remove the offending animals by trapping or hunting. Problem animals are often livetrapped and moved to other localities. This practice, however, may contribute to disease transmission. Recent studies have shown that relocated raccoons travel extensive distances in short periods of time and are thus an ideal vehicle for transmitting contagious diseases such as rabies.

Habitat improvement for raccoons should include the provision of denning sites such as hollow trees and logs and the planting of crops such as corn as a source of food. However, in city areas little habitat management is needed because the raccoon adapts readily to human-made structures for shelter or sanctuary. Raccoon populations are thriving in most areas, and the species appears secure from any population decline in the foreseeable future.

Reading list

• Anderson, S. and J.K. Jones, eds. 1984. Orders and families of recent mammals of the world. John Wiley and Sons. New York, N.Y.
• Banfield, A.W.F. 1981. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press. Toronto, Ont.
• Chapman, J.A. and G.A. Feldhamer, eds. 1982. Wild mammals of North America. Biology, management and economics. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, Md.
• Hamilton, J. and J. Whitaker. 1979. Mammals of the eastern United States. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, N.Y.
• Novak, M., J. Baker, M. Obbard, and B. Mallock, eds. 1987. Wild furbearer management and conservation in North America.
• Ontario Trappers' Association. North Bay, Ont. Rue, L.L., III. 1981. Furbearing animals of North America. Crown Publishers. New York, N.Y.

	Canadian Wildlife Service - Hinterland Who's Who series Reproduced with permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 1999. Copyright © 1999 Environment Canada. All rights reserved. Last update: 19 January 1999