Created BThe Raccoon
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.
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