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Raccoons - A Common Urban Wildlife Species

© Diana Pederson

Raccoons are one of the wild mammals that urban dwellers can easily recognize. They may hear the clattering of garbage cans at night as raccoons search for food. Apartment dwellers may have raccoons jump out of waste disposal units when they dispose of trash. My parent's dogs have barked vigorously when a raccoon crossed their backyard (very urban neighborhood). Raccoons will even attack dogs if the raccoon cannot escape up a tree and is forced to fight.

IDENTIFYING RACCOONS

The distinguishing characteristic of a raccoon is its famous black face mask and white and black striped tail.. Adult raccoons weigh from 19 to 35 pounds. They have 40 teeth. The most obvious characteristics of raccoons are the face and tail. The raccoon's overall body coloration is a mixture of black, white, and light brown hair. Their fur (pelage) has a very dense layer of brownish or yellowish-gray inner fur. The guard hair (outer layer of fur, longer fur which is seen on the pelage surface) on their back has black tips. The side and belly guard hairs have beige or white tips. The forehead, ears, and muzzle (nose) are buff. Raccoons shed their fur once during the late spring. The shedding and regrowth processes take several weeks from April through June. Raccoons occasionally have pelage which is melanistic (all black), or albinistic (all white).

WHERE DO THEY LIVE?

Raccoons have adapted themselves to city life. Trash cans or dumpsters provide supplemental food, storm sewers serve as travel lanes, and attics and fireplace chimneys are used as dens. This replaces the trees, streams and fields which meet a raccoon's physical needs in more rural areas.

WHAT DO THEY EAT?

Raccoons eat both plant and animal foods. Acorns and other nuts, corn, seeds, berries, fruit, vegetables, and grain crops serve as raccoon food. If given the opportunity, they will also eat mice, ground squirrels and other small mammals. They even eat earthworms and insects. Raccoons are known to prey upon both eggs and adult ground nesting birds, chickens and waterfowl. They eat freshwater shellfish such as snails or mussels/clams, crayfish, frogs, snakes, and turtles or turtle eggs. Minnows and other types of fish are eaten. In the city, they may add pet food, table scraps and other garbage, and vegetables or fruit from backyard gardens to their menu. It is crucial that they have access to highly nutritious, fattening foods during the fall. Raccoons may double their body weight in the fall in preparation for winter. They do not store food supplies for the winter.

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