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Previous Issues > November 2006 > Wildville! > Raccoon
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 Wildville!
Raccoon
Raccoon
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Procyon
The raccoon is always up to something! They are curious, intelligent animals with a reputation for getting into things they shouldnt. The North American raccoon is easy to recognize, even though he wears a mask! It has a black mask across its eyes and has black bands, or rings, around its tail. The raccoon usually has shaggy gray to black fur, sometimes with brown mixed in.
The raccoon is usually about 2 feet long, with a tail that adds another 12 inches. They usually weigh around 20 pounds, but a large male can get as big as 44 pounds. The front paws of the raccoon look like small human hands. They even have thumbs (although not opposable like humans), which help them open doors and garbage cans. Raccoons are nocturnal, which means they are awake at night and sleep during the day. They are also omnivorous (eating both animal and plant foods) and eat berries and plants, insects, fish and other small animals. They sometimes dip their food in water, as if they were washing it. Researchers arent quite sure why they do this, but dont think that they are intentionally washing their food.
Raccoons live in wooded areas near water, but can also be found in and around large cities where they will eat garbage and pet food. They can swim and climb and sometimes live in
hollow trees. The raccoon can be found in most of North America and into South America. In colder areas, the raccoon sleeps for long periods of time but does not hibernate.
There are seven species of racoon, but the North American Racoon is the most common.
Sources: Britannica Student Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Brittanica Online; Wikipedia, raccoon.
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