Transcript Raccoon

Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Classification








Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Subfamily: Procyoninae
Genus species: Procyon lotor
Identification






Gray-Brown or Brownish
black with gray underneath
Pointed snout and black
facial mask outlined in
white
Bushy tail with black rings
Males usually out weigh
females
Weight between 12-30 lb
Weight is typically higher in
the south
I.D. Cont.




Front feet look like
human hands but
smaller
Have long hind feet
Front and hind feet
both finger-like
Have small ears
Life History




Breeding takes place in January-April
peak in February
Female capable of having litter at one
year of age
Male typically don’t breed until age 2
Litter averages 4-6 young called
kittens
Breeding cont.







Gestation about 63 days
Do not form pair bonds
Males will typically breed with several
females every spring.
Young will stay with mother until next
breeding season
Young weened in 10 weeks
Young are born sparsely haired
Grow a full coat in about 2 weeks
Species diversity








1 of seven species of the genus Procyon
All geographically isolated
Northern raccoon is the most common species in
North America
Relatives include:
Lesser panda of Asia
Coatis of South America
Kinkajou of Central America
Olingos of central and South America
Population status




In North America the raccoon is very
abundant
Occurs everywhere except Rocky
Mountain region of the western U.S.
Lack of food in higher elevations
probably related to reason for absence
High concentrations near cities and
suburban areas
Distribution of Population

North America Distribution
Pop. Cont.




Widespread distributed in Kentucky
Population affected by 2 major
diseases in procyons
Rabies and Canine distemper
Few predators although Bobcats,
Coyotes, foxes, and Great Horned
Owls may take young or sick animals
Habitat





Forested wetland areas
Riparian zones along streams
Prefers mixed hardwood forest along
cities and suburbs
Extremely adaptable
Rely on moist habitats for abundance
of food
Habitat cont.



They prefer to den in hollow hardwood
trees
Have been found to den in woodchuck
burrows, caves, mines, deserted
buildings, and houses
Have kittens in protection of den
Diseases



The raccoon is a carrier of diseases
such as leptospirosis, canine
distemper, giariasi, and rabies.
Rabies is spread from animal to animal
mainly from being bitten by an
infected animal.
A host for ectoparasites such as fleas,
ticks, and lice
Ecology






Occasional predators on many species of
fish, reptile eggs, and crustaceans
Crepuscular and nocturnal
Most feeding occurs in the early hours of
the night.
Omniverous: they eat anything they can find
Escape predators by climbing trees: they
can climb both forwards and backwards.
endothermic
Management concerns







Although pop. is stable concerns for rabies still arise.
Cornell Univ. along with biologist proved that oral vaccines,
those concealed in flavored baits and dropped from aircraft,
can immunize most raccoons against rabies
Cookie size baits that are flavored like marshmallows.
36000 placebos dropped over 18.5 square mile area
live trapping of raccoons shown that 4/5 of wild raccoons in
the study area carried the biological marker of the placebo in
the blood
So if the placebos actually had vaccines in them then they
could already be curing the rabid populations of raccoons
They strongly believe this is a way of administering vaccines
to wild animal populations quickly and effectively
Concerns cont.

Important because rabies not only
harms raccoons but can spread to
humans through the saliva of infected
animals
Other concerns



Other concerns for raccoons is their
safety because they are serious
predators on nesting wood duck eggs.
They may be killed due to nest
predation.
Nest boxes now include devices to
stop predation of eggs.
biology






Does not migrate
Have narrow home range
But may be extended during breeding
season males travel many miles to find
available females for breeding
May become dormant in coldest winter
months
Store fat reserves in the tail
Young more active in winter months than
adults
Food





Diet changes from spring to winter
depending on what is available
Animal material is most important part of
diet in spring and summer while plant
material is used in the winter
Considered a nuisance to farmers
Eat corn and any different grains
Usually doesn’t finish whole ear of corn
before going to another one. This in turn
waste corn very quickly
Raccoon sign





Crayfish leavings along shore
Broken stalks, shredded husks, and kernals,
spreaded along cornfields
Hollow tree may have scat around entrance
with scratches around hole
May use a latrine area where copious
quantities of scat are deposited
Any of these elements may mean that you
may have a family of raccoons living in the
vicinity
other…




Raccoons are
commonly associated
with washing their
food.
Latin name lotor
means “hand washer”
Generally seen in
raccoons in captivity
This behavior believed
to be replacement for
the natural behavior of
catching crayfish or
other aquatic prey.
Economic importance to
humans




Positive:
Raccoon pelts have been harvested since
colonial period.
During 1920’s coon coats were popular
making a pelt worth about 14$. Although
demand is no longer high, raccoon pelts
may still be sold as imitation mink, otter, or
seal fur
pets
Economic cont.








Negative:
Nuisance to farmers
Damage to orchards, vineyards, melon patches,
cornfields, and peanut fields
Move on to next ear of corn before finishing first.
Costs farmers lots of money
Many farmers let people come in and hunt the
coons that cause problems to agricultural practices.
Hunting is regulated by KDFWR.
Tear up trash looking for food
Eat pet food that is set out at night for pets
Around the house



Raccoons can be a
problem when they
become use to
human interactions
Come around
houses to look for
food.
Sometime can be
found inhabiting
attics as a den
Some things you can do to
make your house coon proof





Don’t feed the raccoons. They become tolerant to humans
quickly and consider you a food source.
Cover up all possible entries into home. Make sure all
raccoons are out first. You can tell if a raccoon is in the area
by sprinkling flour in the walkway of the opening. You need
to check periodically to see if any activity had taken place.
Hang ammonia soaked cotton balls around entries. Raccoons
hate strong smells.
Moth balls can help.
Raccoons don’t like well lit areas. They prefer dark areas. So
try a light up dark areas around the home like garbage bins.
Raccoons as pets




Pet raccoons are
generally babies
Caught in traps and
raised as pets
Very destructive as
pets
Can be tamed
Pets cont.


Albinism is not
uncommon in
raccoons. These are a
popular choice but
hard to come by
Most in the wild are
quickly preyed upon
because of their easy
to detect white coat
Pets cont.


Most pets are
caught in the wild
and are often
babies that have
been hurt or taken
from the mother
Some pets wonder
into the house and
are then captured
Facts








Raccoons that live in the wild may reach ages of 13-16. But
normally only live 4-5 years.
One captive raccoon once lived 21 years
Males are bigger than females. They usually weigh from 12 to 30
pounds. One once was recorded to weigh 62lb
Usually these animals are solitary, or a few share a den, but a
Minnesota trapper entered an old cabin in the winter to behold 23
pairs of eyes staring back at him.
Excellent night vision
Can obtain speeds of 15 mph but normally scurry of when frightened
They can drop 35 to 40 feet without serious harm
Excellent swimmers which make them very adaptable to wetland
conditions, but normally choose not to because of the added weight
of a wet coat.
The end.

Thank you for your
time.