Click the image for a larger picture

Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Procyonidae

History and Biology:

The raccoon, Procyon lotor, has a grayish-brown fur, a black bandit mask around the eyes, and a black and white ringed bushy tail. The walk of the raccoon is plantigrade, and leaves a distinctive track by walking on the sole of its feet. It is a husky animal weighing 10 to 20 pounds; 50 pound adults have been recorded. The raccoon is found throughout the United States .

The feeding habits of the raccoon are omnivorous. The diet consists of crustaceans, fish, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, birds, mollusks, fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables. The raccoon has significant dexterity with the agile fingers of its front feet and considerable balance when standing erect on the soles of its hind feet. The raccoon is seldom seen in the day because of its nocturnal nature. The raccoon has become troublesome to humans because of its inquisitive nature of searching garbage cans and dwellings for food.

The habitat preferred by the raccoon is brushy woodlands near water such as a marsh, river, stream, lake or pond. A raccoon will travel away from a natural body of water for food and harborage. The raccoon prefers a hollow log, tree, or existing rocky cavity for shelter. The raccoon does not dig its own virgin den; it prefers to use existing dwellings. It is very inquisitive and often finds harborage while investigating structures.

A female raccoon will give birth to a single litter annually. The young are usually born in the spring and vary in number from 2 to 8 (average 4). Gestation for the raccoon is 63 days, newborn are hairless and have closed eyes.

The raccoon is a fierce fighter when cornered and can inflict fatal wounds to dogs relatively larger. They have also been known to drown dogs in water by climbing on top of the canines head and holding tight.

Public Health:

The raccoon is a notorious reservoir for the zoonotic disease rabies. Raccoon rabies is prevalent along the east coast from Florida , northward. It has also been found to be a reservoir for encephalitis, distemper, Chagas' disease, leptospirosis, and tularemia. The raccoon is commensal and is in close proximity to humans living in anthropogenic structures and feeding on human garbage. The raccoon may also harbor various ectoparasites such as fleas, mites, lice, and ticks.

Structural Damage:

The raccoon can cause structural damage by creating holes for access into human structures, destroying insulation by nesting behavior, and soiling areas and equipment with feces and urine.

Agricultural Damage:

The raccoon can cause damage through the consumption and contamination of agricultural seed, grain, fruits, and vegetables in the field, storage, and wholesale and retail outlets. It can also cause damage to agricultural structures and equipment by harborage and defacement.

Environmental Damage:

Because of its commensal relationship with humans and its potential for inquisitive investigations into structures and food supplies, the raccoon is a constant public health and property damage problem. In nature, raccoons feed on small mammals and birds and may have a negative impact on their population richness and densities.

Economic Damage:

Economic damage from the raccoon is difficult to assess when you consider the intangible costs of the impact of zoonotic diseases on the public health of humans, livestock, domestic animals, and wildlife. Additionally, it is also difficult to determine the real cost of equipment and structural damages from defacement. Also, there is a significant cost to American consumers and business from the consumption and contamination of seed, grain, fruits, nuts, and vegetables damaged by the raccoon.

References:

Mallis, A. 1997. Handbook of Pest Control: The behavior, Life History, and Control of Household Pests, Eighth Edition. Mallis Handbook and Technical Training Company.