RACOON

Recognized by its striped face and ringed tail, the racoon has invaded almost every habitat and is commonly found even in towns and cities. The racoon is curious, clever, and solitary and deceptively cuddly-looking. It owes its success to its ability to live in a wide variety of habitats and survive on a flexible diet.

HABITS The racoon leads a largely solitary life. It is temperamental and will often fight with its own family members as well as with others racoons. Although most racoons live in the wild, close contact with humans does not bother them. They often nest in empty buildings, garages, sheds, and even the attics of houses. Since racoons are nocturnal animals, they are most active at night. Racoons do not hibernate in the winter, but those that live further north, where it is colder, grow thick coats to keep them warm and spend long periods sleeping. BREEDING

While the male racoon mates with different females, the female will mate with only one male, avoiding all others that season. Mating usually takes place in the winter months, but may continue until June. About 9 weeks after mating, the young are born in a nest of leaves made by the female in a hollow tree or log. They are blind for their first 3 weeks, but grow quickly. The female cares for them exclusively, teaching them to hunt and to climb trees. With such predators as bobcats and cougars, this is a dangerous time for the young kits. Although some families break up in the fall, the young normally stay with their mother through the first winter, after which they gradually leave. The young females begin to breed when they are a year old; males generally begin at the age of two.