Racoons

Raccoons are very common anywhere near water in the Platte River Watershed. They adapt well to human presence and they even live in our towns feeding on garbage. They range from Northern Alberta through almost all of the United States and into South America. They make their dens in hollow trees.

Raccoons eat arthropods, rodents and frogs. But they mainly eat things like berries, fruits, and plant materials. Sometimes they eat eggs, nestlings, corn and melons. Unlike most animals they often wash their food before they eat it.

Raccoons are a stout animal with short legs, a pointed muzzle and small erect ears. They have a black "mask" of fur around their eyes. Their fur is blackish with brown overtones. The raccoon's fur is shaggy and coarse, almost an iron-gray color. Their tail can have anywhere from 5-10 black bands. They can reach about 30-36 inches long and a tail of about foot long. They can weigh up to about 22 lbs. The large males can weigh up to 44 lbs. Their feet are small and the forefeet resemble slender human hands.

The young raccoons are born in litters of about 1-6 , but usually 3-4. They are born after 60-73 days of mating. The mother cares for them for about a year then the young are sent out on their own. At about 2 months of age, they are weaned and begin learning how to hunt and detect danger.

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