The Raccoon
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Click on the raccoons to hear their sound
The Raccoon:
The raccoon (scientific name procyon lotor) wears a black so called mask but is not a bandit. Actually the raccoons "mask" is just a handsome patch of black fur. Raccoons have bright eyes, a ringed tail, and thick fur which make raccoons look much more cuddly than they are. Raccoons have sharp teeth and claws. In battles between a dog and a raccoon a raccoon can defend themselves very well. Raccoons love water and they are good swimmers. They are also good climbers.

The Raccoon's Cousins:
The raccoon's closest cousin in North America are the ring tail and the coati. Unlike the raccoon the coati is very busy during the day.

Description:
On the whole raccoons are gray in color. A few nearly black and others have slightly red or blond fur. The raccoon has a fluffy tail with four to seven rings of dark fur. Raccoons have sharp noses with black tips and long whiskers. They usually weigh from 7-20 pounds. One old male or boar , raccoon fattened up to 62 pounds. Raccoons measure from 24 to 37 inches in length.

Habitat:
Raccoons can be found throughout most of North America. That whole area is known as their range . They live across the whole United States except in some desert and mountain regions.  Raccoons also live in parts of Mexico and in southern Canada. Raccoons seek out certain places within their range.  These are called habitats. Raccoons  are usually found along streams or in swamps and marshes. Some raccoons live in woodlands near large cities. Some of these raccoons sneak into human's backyard.
 

Kits:
Raccoon babies are called kits .  They are usually born in the spring . A mother  raccoon generally has four or five kits. Together they make up her litter. Each kits weighs about two ounces. Some  young raccoons leave their mother when they are just about 4 months old . Others spend the winter with their mothers.  Wild raccoons live to be more than five years but very rarely.  Captive raccoons live to be about 15 years old.

Predator and Prey:
Raccoons eat plants and animals raccoons are called omnivores. Omnivores means "all "in latin language.  Which means that they eat both meat and plants.  Raccoons are also predators. Predators that hunt other animals. Raccoons eat  crayfish, frogs,  baby muskrats, bird eggs, turtle eggs and oysters. They also eat seeds, ripe fruits, nuts, garden crop and corn.  Most larger animals don't attack full grown raccoons. Young raccoons may be prey for eagles, hawks,owls and bobcats.