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| It is almost guaranteed that on a trip to the Algonquin Highlands you will see a Raccoon. The Algonquin Highlands provides a great habitat for Raccoons because of its hardwood stands and abundance of lakes and rivers. Hollow trees are great dens for Raccoons to live in and water is a great source of food. Raccoons are part of a family that spans over most of the United States and Southern Canada. Those found in the Southern region don’t typically hibernate, while, like the Black Bear, only those found in the North hibernate. Fattening up all fall, the Raccoon then sleeps away the winter with a lowered heartbeat, breathing rate and body temperature. Just like most animals found this far north, sometimes the severity of Canadian winters can leave animals emaciated and sick in the spring. The Raccoon is know to most as a scavenger and a pest. Although it is classified as a carnivore, it has modified to the diet of an omnivore. Its teeth are like ours, molars that are flat on top. Their diet mostly consists of grubs, fruit, various eggs but their favourites are found by the water’s edge. Crayfish, frogs and clams are among the Raccoons primary food intake. Although they are a fair-sized critter, Raccoons can fall prey to many other animals such as foxes, wolves and even great horned owls. The Raccoon has varying colours. Some are a reddish brown while others tend to be more gray. All have black or brown rings on their tails with a black mask on their face outlined in white. Raccoons have very soft and sensitive paws that seem to feel food over before they eat. An average adult male Raccoon is about 80 cm and Northern Raccoons are usually heavier. Wild Raccoons live 3-5 years with entire populations replaced almost every 7 years. Breeding begins in January and, while females only mate once, males will mate several times. With a gestation period of around 63 days, litters vary in size depending on location. Weighing 75 g, baby Raccoon are born without teeth and with their eyes closed. The babies remain with the family until the female has her next litter. |
(Family Procyonidae)
Procycon lotor
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