We released the male on the other side of the river, but when we captured the female, we realized she’d just had her litter (we knew she was in the family way prior to this). If your garbage can does not have a locking/clamping lid, secure it with rope, chain, bungee cords, or weights. Between the destruction they can cause and their smell, it’s possible for a raccoon’s damage to reduce your property value by up to 10%. "They don't really wash their food, even though their scientific name actually is the 'bear who washes with their hands,'" said MacDonald. The guard-hairs assist with shedding moisure while the thick undercoat, which makes up the majority of the fur, provides a nice and warm insulation for the little raccoon. It is also advised to secure the can to prevent raccoons from tipping it over. Raccoons have whiskers on their front toes! Raccoons are born with very fine fuzz, and faint little masks around their eyes; The "raccoon dog"looks remarkably like a raccoon but is not related to the raccoon - it is in the canine family.- Granted, most people seem to think of the raccoon as a nuisance and a disease carrier but if more people would take the time to understand these highly intelligent critters then both raccoons and humans would be able to get a long a lot better. 89 $10.99 $10.99. Damage goes beyond theft, though. Carl Linnaeus first placed Raccoons in … Raccoons have sharp teeth and claws, which they aren’t afraid to use when they feel threatened. – Glass Lizard, Wild Fact #416 – A Little Bloated – Sea Raven, Wild Fact #610 – Don’t Mess with the Devil – Asian Giant Hornet, Wild Fact #307 – A Real Cliffhanger – Thick-Billed Murre. They extend from the edge of the nose to the lower part of the cheek. I loved this one Nathan. An old theory held that raccoons have no salivary glands and need to wet their food in order to digest it. Black colored fur indicates the appearance of a mask around the eyes of raccoons, hence, may look like thieves in the night as they travel between properties. While raccoons are usually grey, black and white, they may also be brown. Close. Raccoons often leave their feces in communal sites called latrines. 486. If the front end of a raccoon presents danger in the form of bites and rabies, the other side of the animal presents two other forms of danger: raccoon roundworm and Leptospirosis. They have a mask of black fur that covers their eyes and a ringed tail. Another theory is that the different patterns of each animal’s mask help raccoons recognize each other. Raccoons have grayish-brown fur over most of their body, and their tails have four to six black rings. This is why it is important to get rid of these pests before they do damage. They have a long and pointed muzzle and hands which they can use for digging, grabbing, and climbing. Symptoms include: If you think you may have been in contact with raccoon feces, it is best to see your doctor immediately to get treated for a possible infection. Why Do Raccoons Have Ringed Tails? DO NOT rely on your pets to deter skunks and raccoons as this could lead to confrontations or they may not care about their presence and do nothing to deter them. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. The incubation period of raccoon ringworm is usually 1-4 weeks. Raccoons have highly dexterous front paws and have been known to unlock locks and get into trash cans for food. Thank you very much for doing a good job by providing unique info about wild life. Remove lumber, debris, and rocks from your yard (and junk cars if you have one). I think one of the best things about this blog is getting the opportunity to hear wildlife related stories from my readers. All raccoons have bandit-like face masks. Raccoons do not have opposable thumbs, but their "pinkie" finger and thumb can meet across the palm. But research has since shown that raccoons have normal salivary glands. Some people feed them, but this is un… Their black feet have five toes on each paw. Verified. The fur of the raccoon has other beneifts then just providing a canvas to colour on. So don’t just depend on the coloring of its fur to identify the species unless you spot the black mask on its face. Why do I have raccoons? Raccoons have a 63-day gestation period and will give birth to a litter of 3–7 cubs (4 on average) in April or May. You might think that between the destruction, theft and spreading of disease blamed on this furry animal, raccoons might wear masks to prevent being identified in a police lineup. Adults can weigh between 15 and 40 pounds and are 23 to 37 inches in length. Archived. the black fur under the raccoon’s eyes reduces glare, carefully removed, burned, buried or sent to a landfill, Blindness and coma (in severe cases only). Also, in addition to rabies, raccoons can transmit canine distemper and the parvo virus to your pets. Only 1 left Favorite Add to Raccoon Cloth Reusable Cotton Face Mask with Adjustable Elastic Ear Loops - Triple Layer Sewfunky. For more information on raccoons and other useful animal info on co-existing with wildlife then I recoommend you check out SunChaser Wildlife at:  http://www.sunchaserwildlife.com/. Not all raccoons have dark masks and black, white, and gray coloration! Sorry folks, you will have to wait for another day to learn more about the raccoon (or you can click the link I will provide at the end of this post). I can’t even remember things from that far back. This is an important feature since the raccoon is a nocturnal animal. Not all raccoons have dark masks and black, white, and gray coloration! Cats have also been known to nurse baby raccoons (see nursing video below). I am a digital nomad who enjoys travelling around the globe while inspiring others to leave their comfort zone and improve their life. We managed to catch two this summer along with an unsuspecting cat. Maybe just as the ancient Egyptians used kohl eye makeup to protect their eyes from the harsh glare of the sun, the black around the eyes helps ‘coons see better at night by reducing glare. Many people enjoy watching or photographing raccoons. If a raccoon takes up residence in your yard and becomes infected, the parasite eggs can spread from their feces to areas around your yard. They have small, erect ears and a pointed muzzle. They have a stocky torso and short limbs. The Head And Hands Of A Cute And Cuddly Raccoon Fabric Half Face Mask Mouth Masks with Earmuffs Anti Dust Anti Haze Windproof Mask. Did you know? Believe it or not though, this mask has other benefits to the raccoon then just making it difficult to pick them out of a police line-up. We found out they have a great fondness for apples! In a nutshell, this critter is not man’s best friend. , In particular, I liked this post about Raccoons. But mating between wild coons and female cats also occurs. Thanks for the great post! Their ears are pointed and their paws handlike, capable of … Their forefeet have five dexterous toes, allowing them to grasp and manipulate food and other items. Even at birth the rings on their tails are slightly visible. I had a reader ask why I did not have a Wild Fact about raccoons up yet. ONE LIVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE. However, they are extremely well adapted to life in urban and suburban communities, and also like to live under porches, garages, abandoned buildings, and barns. Schedule a service with an expert from ABC and get rid of pests once and for all. The ears are short and stand upright. It's why raccoons are commonly thought to wash their food. Don't give your pet CBD Oil until you read this! 5 out of 5 stars (66) $ 13.25. Find out what the risks are for your pet. Only 13 left in stock - order soon. $9.89 $ 9. The Torch Key Raccoon of the Florida Keys has a paler coloration to blend in with its environment. I was hoping to get a glimpse of her babies, but she moved them before we had a chance. The tail has a ringed pattern and is bushy. Needless to say, my conscience got the better of me and I let her go behind the garage. It has a conspicuous These markings may allow the ferret to sneak through the … Immediate removal will reduce the risk of exposing your family to the parasites. That is too bad you didn’t get a chance to see the little guys as I am sure they would have been very cute! Because raccoons are the primary host of Baylisascaris procyanis, a roundworm that can harm people, and the roundworm eggs may be present in raccoon feces, their latrines should be removed and cleaned up whenever they might pose a health hazard.This the task requires extreme caution. Adults weigh an average of 15 pounds, and are readily identified by alternating rings on the tail and characteristic black "mask." Rather than attempting to catch these pesky creatures on your own, call in a professional who has the equipment and training to handle wildlife control. I appreciate your work very much, and I have added your blogs in my favourites as well. Raccoons are very intelligent and will find ways to get to garbage for food even when you think you've secured the lid. As well, this mask can help reduce the amount of glare (similar to the black paint that football players wear all the time) which will ultimately assist with the raccoons’ night vision abilities. They have a distinctive black mask around their eyes. (1.8 to 10.4 kilograms), according to National Geographic. Thanks for sharing! Under such circumstances, the baby coons would probably … Raccoon roundworm does not usually cause a serious problem for raccoons. You are certainly providing very useful info about wild animals and wild life. Raccoons grow to about 28 inches in … Thank you so much for the kind words, Pearl! It is nice to hear that you were practicing live release and transfer then just shooting them like other people would do. Male raccoons, especially tame ones, will voluntarily mate with cats. Raccoons are persistent, bold nocturnal creatures that perform their banditry at night. Raccoons in Washington often have roundworms (like domestic dogs and cats do, but from a different worm). Aside from being dangerous to human health, these masked bandits notoriously scavenge and decimate gardens. Raccoon populations do very well in urban areas, primarily due to hunting and trapping restrictions, a general lack of predators, and an abundance of available human food. One of the purposes of Wild Facts is to help people understand a bit more about the wildlife all around us. We haven’t seen hide nor hair of any since. There are a few steps you can take to deter raccoons from setting up shop in and around your home: Although a picture of this masked animal may be cute at first glance, a close encounter with these fanged creatures at night is not a situation homeowners want to be in. Raccoons have some pipes. Posted by 5 years ago. Wild Fact #710 – I Would be “Shocked” if You Got Stung – Stingray, Wild Fact #685 – The Colour Changers – Sand Lizard, Wild Fact #759 – 7 Years of Bad Luck? You might think that between the destruction, theft and spreading of disease blamed on this furry animal, raccoons might wear masks to prevent being identified in a police lineup. Raccoons are categorized as medium-sized carnivores. ABC has you covered! Scare tactics don't work on them. The raccoon's coloration is ideal for a nocturnal species, enabling them to vanish like smoke when harassed. Some hypothesize that the purpose of a raccoon's black mask is to reduce glare, helping it to see better in the dark. The most common and well-known is the North American raccoon (Procyon lotor), which ranges from northern Canada and most of the United States southward into South America. The raccoons' recognizable mask is not just for fun: It's a way … The experts at ABC Home & Commercial Services can help identify how raccoons, rodents and other types of wildlife made their way onto your property and work with you to come up with a treatment plan to ensure they are gone—for good. (This article is part of the support material for the alternative theory of evolutionoffered on this website.) Raccoons are assumed to recognize the facial expression and posture of other members of their species more quickly because of the conspicuous facial coloration and the alternating light and dark rings on the tail. However, roundworm eggs shed in raccoon droppings can cause mild to serious illness in other animals and humans. These animals are notorious for setting up home inside chimneys and attics, and they become quite territorial. Once ensconced in your home, deceptively cute raccoons can bite, gnaw, rip and tear any siding, vents, shingles, wires, water lines, curtains and furniture in their way. As I mentioned there are several interesting characteristics about the raccoon but today I am only going to touch on the colouration of the raccoon. © Copyright 2021 ABC Home & Commercial Services All Rights Reserved, TECL 23492 | TACLA45890C | LI2669 | M-32147 | TICL587. Get it as soon as Fri, Jan 8. Raccoons have furry coats in brown-gray with ringed tails and a telltale black mask across their eyes. Their long tail has rings of black and yellowish-white. Raccoons also carry rabies, fleas, distemper and parasites like roundworm, which can be contracted by humans attempting to clean up raccoon waste without wearing a mask. In addition, raccoons have whitish patches on top of the eyes and around the nose. One theory, though, is that the black fur under the raccoon’s eyes reduces glare and enhances the nocturnal raccoon’s vision when it’s dark outside. The black-footed ferret has a bandit-like mask, similar to the markings found on raccoons. The most noticeable marking is the black "mask"—large black markings around each eye. It's unusual for White House pets to start as Thanksgiving … The dark mask may actually help other raccoons distinguish each other based on the  colourations of the face. Any areas that may be infected should be carefully removed, burned, buried or sent to a landfill. They grow to about 23 to 37 inches (60 to 95 centimeters) and weigh 4 to 23 lbs. Raccoon Fast Fact: Studies have shown that raccoons can remember tasks for up to 3 years after learning it. The best way to protect yourself and your family from the risks raccoons pose is by preventing them from entering your property in the first place. As well, this mask can help reduce the amount of glare (similar to the black paint that football players wear all the time) which will ultimately assist with the raccoons… In the wild, raccoons make dens in tree cavities, caves, and the abandoned homes of other animals, in woodland areas with nearby sources of water. Keep garbage out of reach of raccoons. Unfortunately, raccoons are a primary rabies carrier in the U.S., so their bites are dangerous, as well as painful. Their Mask Has Good Reason. I have a passion for self-development and of course everything related to our natural ecosystems. They might look like silent burglars, but raccoons are surprisingly vocal. In addition to threats to your health, raccoons can severely damage crawl spaces and attics by chewing through walls, sheetrock, and support structures. This is one reason you shouldn’t keep raccoons as pets. According to Texas A&M University, raccoon roundworm, officially a parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis, is transmitted to humans through contact with raccoon feces. If you ever have any wildlife related questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Raccoons are "well-rounded," often plump, with reddish brown to grey fur. In addition, adult raccoons usually range bet… One of the most distinctive features of a raccoon is the patterns of fur colors its face. At 8-10 weeks they begin to eat solid foods and forage outside the den with their mother. 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