The Mischievous Raccoon

Raccoons Courtesy of Phil Myers, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Raccoon Puzzle Raccoon Coloring Where are the Raccoons? Back to Park Pals Page
GLOSSARY
Hibernate	To pass the winter in a resting state.
Mammal	Animals that nourish their young with milk, and that have hair on their skin.
Mischievous	Tending to cause annoyances.
Nocturnal	Active at night.
Omnivore	Feeding on both animal and vegetable matter.
Saliva	Fluid found in the mouth that aids in digestion.
Sensitive	Being able to feel sensations.
Courtesy of Ricky Layson, Forest Resource Consultants

These sneaky critters are omnivores, which means they eat meat as well as fruits and grasses. They have sharp front teeth which are good for tearing meat and back teeth that are good for chewing plants. Some of their favorite foods are berries, acorns, baby birds, frogs and fish.

The raccoon prefers to live in wooded areas with big trees and lots of water close by. The raccoon’s habit of dipping its food in water before eating it was misunderstood for a long time. Some people thought raccoons were very clean animals. Others believed that raccoons did not have enough saliva in their mouths to easily swallow food. They really use the water to make their sensitive feet even more sensitive so they can actually feel bad spots in the foods they eat. Their little feet resemble the hand prints and foot prints of people!

Raccoons are normally gray or black in color with a pale gray underneath. They can also be red or blonde in color, although these other colors are not as common. Their black mask is rimmed on top and bottom with white. The raccoon’s tail has 4 to 6 black or dark brown rings.

Baby raccoons don’t have the distinct black mask or ringed tails when they are born. These markings take about a week to develop. When they are full grown, raccoons can get up to 2 feet long with a bushy tail that is almost a foot long! They weigh between 15 and 25 pounds.

During the daytime, raccoons sleep in hollow trees or logs and other animal’s abandoned dens. They are nocturnal and are up and about during the dark hours of the night. Even though the raccoon does not really hibernate, it can sleep for days, and even weeks at a time during the cold winter months.

As cute and tame as the raccoon looks, they are wild animals and can be very dangerous. A healthy raccoon will avoid contact with people, but if you see a raccoon out in the daytime, it’s best to stay away. They can carry a rare disease called rabies that can make people sick if they’re bitten. If it is acting strangely, you should tell an adult.

Raccoons are filled with fun and personality, but it’s best to watch and enjoy their funny, masked faces from afar!

Aren’t raccoons mischievous?