Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Raccoons, The Masked Bandits

By: Tom Berg 

Everyone is familiar with the common North American raccoon. Raccoons thrive in almost every habitat in the United States: in both rural settings and in urban areas. They have mastered the ability to adapt to living conditions almost anywhere, and living right alongside humans is no problem for them.

Identifying raccoons is easy. They typically weigh 10-20 pounds and have grayish-brown fur. The black mask on their face is a key giveaway, and their bushy ringed tail (alternating stripes of black and brown fur) is a good confirmation. Their dense fur and an insulating layer of fat keeps them very warm during the winter.

Raccoons are usually nocturnal, so they are rarely seen during the daytime. They search for a variety of foods at night, including insects, worms, fruits, nuts, seeds, birds, fish, frogs, mice and other small mammals. They are omnivorous, so they will eat nearly anything – alive or dead.

When the weather gets really cold in the winter (below 15-20 degrees), raccoons usually stay in their dens and wait for a warm-up. They don’t actually hibernate, but they can sleep and remain inactive for many days or even weeks. Once the weather warms, though, they will be out on the prowl!

Although raccoons are often depicted as cute little furry creatures, they often cause problems for people. They are not so cute when they knock over your garbage cans and spread garbage all over the street or in your yard! If they break into your shed, garage, or attic to make their den, the damage is usually even worse.

During late spring and throughout the summer, raccoons will be foraging for food every night. Their babies are born in the springtime, and there are lots of little mouths to feed. Don’t leave bowls of food outside on your back porch for your cat or dog; raccoons will quickly find the goodies and eat all of it. They are called masked bandits for a good reason!

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