Sunday, March 18, 2012

General Raccoon Information


Raccoons are clever critters, often studied for this fascinating characteristic in captive settings. These mammals are remarkably bright and resourceful in nature as well. There are a lot of interesting facts about raccoons, but before indulging in these, it is good to have a brief understanding of what the raccoon species is all about.
Description of a Raccoon
Raccoons are a medium-sized mammal, with a gray coat of fur, and a long striped tail. They are often seen with a black stretch of fur directly over their eyes, giving them the look of wearing a bandit's mask; hence the nickname, "little bandits". They usually weigh anywhere from 8 to 20 pounds, and stands at 1 to 2 feet, on its hind legs. This is at full adult size. They also have very human like hands that are great at grasping and even better for climbing.
Raccoons are also known as "little bandits" due to their curiosity and cleverness in residential areas. They can snoop and tear through garbage cans and dumpsters looking for food, in the middle of the night, and never get caught. People in these communities wake up to a huge mess in their lawn or drive-way! This is what most people think of when you mention, "Raccoon".
Reproduction, Life Expectancy, and Diet
Female raccoons give birth to litters of baby raccoons called "kits". Their gestation period ranges from a few months, or 65 days. They usually have anywhere from 2 to 5 kits per litter. After about nine weeks, the kits can eat solid food and even leave the den to explore. They are eventually weaned completely by 16 weeks or so. The mother shows them feeding grounds and dens, and the adolescent raccoons then split up and head off on their own.
For food, they will eat almost anything. They are by far one of the most interesting omnivores known to man. In certain times, they will munch on insects and worms, but will also eat fruits and nuts in other seasons. They are even known to indulge in certain vertebrates like fish and frogs. This diet is good for them, and must be, because raccoons have been known to also live a long time. In captive, raccoons can live past 20 years of age! However, in nature, there are more dangers and threats that affect the life span of a raccoon. In the wild, raccoons only live on average 1 to 3 years. They are in constant threat of predators, destroyed habitats, loss of food sources, and more.
For more information on raccoons, be sure to visit our Raccoon Removal website, or call us directly at 317-535-4605 today. We can provide you with all the raccoon knowledge you need!

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