I started homeschooling last week, and I saw a raccoon a few days after that. I was at my friends house in his truck and we saw a raccoon in his yard so I did a research paper on them for school, so here it is.
Raccoons
Raccoons have many different names such as, racoon, Northern raccoon, The North American raccoon, the common raccoon, and colloquially the coon. Or as scientists know it as “Procyon lotor”, is a medium sized mammal that it indigenous to North America. They are one of Americas most recognizable animals with their “Bandit’s Mask” and their ring tail. And they live up to their “masks”. They are known for tipping over trash cans, stealing pet food and breaking into houses. Most of the time they use, chimneys and attics to get into houses. And when they do, you better get an exterminator and a food delivery man to come to your house. In fact, raccoons are known to have 20 times as many population in urban areas rather than in the typical rural habitats. They are found in all major habitats across America
Raccoons can carry rabies as any other animal can, but they can be mean. When they feel that they are being threatened, the stand on their hind legs with outstretched arms as if he wanted to give you a big hug. And he will scrunch up his face and make a weird hissing slash growling sound, jump up and……… yeah.
Raccoons have a very flexible diet. I consists of things like fruits, vegetables, acorns, earthworms, fish, and other aquatic animals such as crayfish when available. They are not exactly effective hunters, but they do also dine on mice, amphibians, and birds. And their cravings for sweet corn and grapes, (fruit and vegetables) sometimes come to conflict with gardeners and farmers.
Raccoons are mostly nocturnal. At daytime they are mostly in their dens. Their dens are cavities in trees and sometimes in chimneys and attics. As well as underground in old woodchuck burrows, storm sewers, or crawl spaces under buildings. When they feel that they are in a safe and secure area, the usually just lie in thickets or swamps on open ground.
Mother raccoons give birth to up to three cubs at a time from early sping to early summer. When they are about two months old they are weaned, but spend the first winter with their mothers.
