Raccoon

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Physical Description - Raccoons are identified easily by a black face mask and a bushy tail with alternating black and light-colored rings. Their backs and sides have long, coarse fur which is usually a grizzled gray-brown, but can vary from yellowish gray to nearly black. A raccoon's muzzle is fairly pointed, and its ears are prominent, rounded, and furred. The feet are broad and plantigrade; that is, the raccoon walks on nearly the entire undersurface of its feet, like a bear. The five toes on each foot have well developed claws.A raccoon's total length, including the tail, varies from 26-39 inches. Fall and winter weights vary from 8-27 pounds for males and 6-20 pounds for females.

Habitat - Raccoons occur in nearly all types of habitat. They are most abundant in urban/suburban habitats and areas with a mixture of farmland and woodland, especially where there are hardwood trees like oak and hickory. They are least common in grasslands and agricultural areas with few trees. Streams, rivers, ponds, and lakeshores provide good areas for raccoons to search for food.

Habits - Raccoons are mostly nocturnal, (active from dusk to dawn). The distance an animal travels each night varies with weather conditions, food availability, and its sex and age. During most of the year, adult males occupy an area about 1 mile in diameter. They may travel farther during the breeding season while searching for mates. Adult females and their young live in a smaller area, usually 3/4 of a mile in diameter.

Tracks - The tracks of this animal are paired, having one rear foot beside one front one. The raccoon has five toes and usually the claw marks are evident in the print. The hind foot makes a print in which the toes and heel pad are joined whereas the front tracks toe and heel pad have a brief space between. The print vaguely resembles that of a miniature bear.

Straddle: 10 - 13 cm (4 - 5.2 in)
Stride: 15 - 40 cm (6 - 16 in)
Track: Front - Front - 7 cm (2.8 in) long / 7 cm (2.8 in) wide
Track: Rear - 10 cm (4 in) long / 6 cm (2.4 in) wide

Diet - Raccoons are omnivorous, they eat a wide variety of plants and animals. Corn is an important food during fall and winter in rural areas. Bird food, pet food, and table scraps discarded by people are mainstays in urban areas. Persimmons, wild grapes, wild plums, pecans, blackberries, acorns, and pokeberries can be important in certain areas and/or during certain seasons. Animal foods include insects and crayfish and, to a lesser extent, snails, earthworms, clams, birds, fishes, frogs, and small mammals. Many of these food items are obtained while hunting in shallow pools, overturning rocks, digging into rotten logs, or coming upon a bird nest or unexpecting animal.  They are often seen washing their food, the raccoon is actually feeling for matter that should be rejected as the wetting of the paws enhances its sense of feel. Winter is the raccoons greatest enemy when food is scarce.