There may be a small and furry thief in your neighborhood! These bandits go by the name of raccoons, or a scientifically correct version would be Procyon lotor. Beware, as they always seem to be up to trouble during dark hours, and ensure your trash cans are sealed tightly.
To begin, the arguably most recognizable parts of a raccoon are their striped tail and the dark fur surrounding their eyes, resembling a mask. Additionally, these pudgy animals have a gray, medium-length coat of fur that tends to be lighter at their stomach and muzzle. And, much like our own hands and feet, raccoons have a set of five fingers and toes on each pair, allowing them to be dexterous. This handy advantage allows raccoons to stir up mischief like rummaging through trash cans or even going as far as unlocking doors.
Raccoons are not only known for making messes that can be quite annoying to clean up; they are also known for their behavior. The situation that a raccoon is in can drastically change how it acts. For example, if one feels threatened, it may be more aggressive compared to an undisturbed raccoon.
Moving on, these creatures are extremely adaptable, yet they cannot suppress their naturally wild instincts and desire of wanting solitude. To add on, raccoons are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night—until it starts to get chilly! Hibernating isn’t something that raccoons do, but they do sleep in for a few days in the comfort of their dens.
Raccoons obviously don’t have homes as big as ours, but they sure do have a preference when choosing where to live. Wooded and thick areas of greenery is their ideal living environment because they can use unoccupied burrows that other animals have made, hollow trees, and other natural occurring structures.
In a rather distasteful situation of being in an urban area, attics, sheds, and chimneys have become the replacements. Raccoons need lots of space to enjoy, especially if they are kept as a pet–which is only legal in a few states. Nonetheless, raccoons belong to nature and are often fending for themselves.
Being omnivorous is definitely superior for raccoons living in a variety of environments because they can eat meat or plants. Raccoons tend to eat meat more often, but if there isn’t any, they often go for fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious plant-based things. Raccoons have a habit of dunking their food into water, making people coo or say “aww,” but are mistaken for the reasoning. Most think that dunking food into water is just a habit of cleanliness; however, raccoons use the water to gather information on the food, like its texture and to choose whether it's good to consume.
Unfortunately, raccoons end up being prone to having diseases like rabies, canine distemper, and roundworm. Each of these listed diseases can cause many problems in pets and humans, excluding canine distemper. It is especially advised that you or your pet should seek medical help as soon as possible if and or possibly infected. To avoid these situations, be cautious and get rid of places that can be a den, latrine sites, or any opening that allows raccoons inside.
Despite many risks, there are also a multitude of benefits to having raccoons in our environment. Raccoons distribute seeds and aid in the development of new growth, being able to be planted in the first place. They hunt and get rid of unwanted pests, even eating carcasses at times.
These fuzzy critters are the definition of one man's trash is another's treasure! Raccoons are peculiar creatures that should be treated with caution and respect like any other animal that is a part of our daily lives.
