Racoon Facts

Racoon Facts Here are some things you might not know about the little masked bandits.

POPULATIONS HAVE EXPLODED.Raccoons are among the rare species that have actually benefited from the spread of humans. Po...
24/12/2022

POPULATIONS HAVE EXPLODED.

Raccoons are among the rare species that have actually benefited from the spread of humans. Populations in North America have skyrocketed in the past several decades, and this is despite the destruction of much of the animals' natural environment. Raccoons are adaptable enough to thrive in rural, urban, and suburban environments. In the forests, raccoons will eat birds, insects, fruits, nuts, and seeds, while in residential areas they'll scavenge for garbage and pet food. Some raccoons do their foraging in human-populated areas then retreat into the woods during the day to sleep. Others make buildings—both abandoned and occupied—their home.

THEY CAN BE FOUND ACROSS THE GLOBE, THANKS TO HUMANS.The first raccoons were exported to Europe in the 1920s to stock fu...
24/12/2022

THEY CAN BE FOUND ACROSS THE GLOBE, THANKS TO HUMANS.

The first raccoons were exported to Europe in the 1920s to stock fur farms. By way of an accidental bombing and some bored farmers just wanting to spice up the local wildlife, many raccoons escaped and founded a new population in the wild. Today raccoons in Europe are considered an invasive species.

The animals even ended up in Japan. Their journey there had more wholesome beginnings: In the 1970s, Japanese children were obsessed with the cuddly star of the anime cartoon Rascal the Raccoon. Kids demanded pet raccoons of their own, and at one point Japan was importing roughly 1500 of them a month. Naturally, many of these pets ended up back in the wild when they grew too big for families to take care of them properly. Japan has since prohibited importing and owning raccoons, but the descendants of that initial boom have spread to 42 of the country's 47 prefectures.

ONE LIVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE.It's unusual for White House pets to start as Thanksgiving dinner, but that was the case wi...
24/12/2022

ONE LIVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

It's unusual for White House pets to start as Thanksgiving dinner, but that was the case with Rebecca, the raccoon that lived with Calvin Coolidge for part of his presidency. At the time, raccoon meat wasn't a terribly uncommon sight on dinner tables in America. But once he met the live critter, Coolidge decided he was more interested in adopting her than having her for supper. Rebecca soon became part of the family, receiving an engraved collar for Christmas, taking part in the annual Easter Egg roll, and frequently accompanying the president on walks around the White House grounds. Having a wild animal in the White House may sound absurd by today's standards, but considering Coolidge's pets at the time also included a bobcat, a goose, a donkey, two lion cubs, an antelope, and a wallaby, Rebecca fit right in.

THEIR MASKS AREN'T JUST FOR SHOW.Thanks to the black markings that fall across their eyes, raccoons have been typecast a...
24/12/2022

THEIR MASKS AREN'T JUST FOR SHOW.

Thanks to the black markings that fall across their eyes, raccoons have been typecast as the conniving thief or trickster figure in stories for centuries. But their famous black masks do more than make them look like adorable outlaws—they also help them see clearly. The black fur works just like the black stickers athletes wear under their eyes: The dark color absorbs incoming light, reducing glare that would otherwise bounce into their eyes and obstruct their vision. At night, when raccoons are most active, less peripheral light makes it easier for them to perceive contrast in the objects of their focus, which is essential for seeing in the dark.

THEY COME IN MANY VARIETIES.There are six raccoon species native to North and South America. The most recognizable is Pr...
24/12/2022

THEY COME IN MANY VARIETIES.

There are six raccoon species native to North and South America. The most recognizable is Procyon lotor or the common raccoon that lives in the United States. Other varieties of the animal can be found farther south, often inhabiting tropical islands.

THEY'RE NAMED FOR THEIR UNIQUE HANDS.Raccoons have some of the most dexterous hands in nature, as anyone who's had a gar...
24/12/2022

THEY'RE NAMED FOR THEIR UNIQUE HANDS.

Raccoons have some of the most dexterous hands in nature, as anyone who's had a garden, cooler, or garbage can broken into by one of them knows. Native Americans were the first to note their unusual paws. The English word raccoon comes from the Powhatan word aroughcun, which means "animal that scratches with its hands." The Aztecs went in a similar direction when naming the raccoon. They named it mapachitli or "one who takes everything in its hands." Today mapache means "raccoon" in Spanish.

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