Raccoons: Loved or hated - hard to ignore
Fun at a distance; not so fun up close - what do you think?
This article was created in response the Quest call: Wild about Animals.
A few years ago, when my wife and daughters were heavily into "collections" they had cornered all the good ones - bears, frogs, monkeys, etc. When I decided I wanted to do one, a collection that is, I wanted something not normally collected, but available if you looked hard. I came up with - you guessed it - Raccoon stuff. Over a few years, I collected more than I expected... Now, what do I do with that stuff. Well, I was about to do a collectible lens on raccoons, but went a different direction.
Now, here I am, doing an article on Raccoons. They are fascinating creatures, so let's go on a little journey here, to learn more - and, maybe we'll find some more collectibles along the way, as well! ;-)
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon
Link List
- Raccoon on Wikipedia
A great source to use as a starting point to learn more about raccoons. - NatureWorks page on Raccoon
A great quick reference with neat photos and useful information in easy to read format. - Raccoon Management information from the University of Callifornia-Davis
If Raccoons are a pest, to you, this is the website to visit, for sure! ;-) - Raccoon Tracker site
If you want to track a raccoon, start here... ;-)
Raccoon items on Amazon
Raccoons - Love 'em or Hate 'em? - Use Comments section here to share your thoughts! ;-)
Raccoons - Love 'em or Hate 'em?
Raccoon Posters on Amazon
Double Trouble
Would you have a raccoon as a pet?
Experts urge against it!
Raccoons are not a domesticated animal.
An exotic pet permit may be required.
The image is a tree cage: a pen with climbing facilities, hiding places, and a watering hole.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon#Pet_raccoons
Click on the link to learn more about raccoons as pets.
Social behavior of Raccoons
Raccoons typically live in groups of three or four in what has been described as a "fission-fusion" society. They share a common area and meet at feeding or resting areas. Behavior varies from male to female, from young to old.
A raccoons home range varied in size and shape depending on age, gender and habitat. Odor marks on prominent place are believed to be used to designate territories.
Click on the link to learn more about typical raccoon social behavior.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon#Social_behavi...
Amazon Spotlight Personal Review - Outhouse and Raccoon Poster - What more could you ask? ;-)
This is an inexpensive poster with a really neat scene and theme. Gotta' have it! ;-)
Raccoon Collectibles
This is a photo of a few of my raccoon collectible items showing the variety if choices that are available. Do you have any of them? Maybe I'll list a few of them on eBid so you have a chance to buy them. Any interest?
Raccoon Reproduction Cycle
Mating season is usually late January to mid-March, when light begins to increase.
Gestation averages 53-65 days, but can be 54-70 days, with a typical litter being two to five kits.
The image of the kit - the baby raccoon - is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon#Reproduction.
Click on the link to learn more about the raccoon reproduction cycle.
Your Comments are Appreciated! - Thanks for stopping by! ;-)
We don't have many problems with them here. We do have a couple of opossums that like to eat our cat's food though.
They are pretty interesting creatures, that's for sure. In our country we have more experience with rabbits and deers, which are also cute until they start destroying you garden ... Great photos!
Interesting topic, love the pictures.
They are so charming to look at and watch. My son has many videos of chips and his antics! The cats never did warm up to him though.
We used to live in Dallas where raccoons would sometimes get in the trashcans ... so I hated them at that time. Now, they aren't a problem so I think they are cute!
I have seen them in London zoo and they look harmless enough - but perhaps they're not! Foxes here in London rummage around and eat whatever they can, they have been known to go into people's kitchens from back gardens. I think I'd like to live near raccoons. Thanks for this food for thought!
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@tonyleather: For sure, Tony. You are exactly correct! Thanks for stopping by! ;-)
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@Board-Game-Brooke: Thanks for your comments. What fun! ;-)
I love raccoons! One year, we lived in a house that had raccoons living in the backyard (including two babies). It was fun to watch them from the window.
I suspect that these adorable looking creatures can actually be quite a pest if encouraged when living near to you, so as much as I like to encourage wildlife in my garden, and support conservation, I would think these cute creatures are best left to their own devices!
We used to have them under the house. They ate all the cat food and continued to multiply!
- AUTHOR
@TanoCalvenoa: News to me, as well. Although, at a Zoo makes as much sense as anywhere! ;-)
They are so cute. Several years ago we had a family of raccoons living in our garden. They would come into the kitchen and help themselves to the cat's food. So very cute and friendly.
I was at the Moonridge Zoo in the mountains, in Big Bear Lake, California. I was surprised to see a worker walking along with a raccoon on a leash, like it was an obedient dog. I didn't know that was possible.
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@BritFlorida: Amazing. Thanks for sharing! ;-)
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@anonymous: I appreciate your comments. I tend to agree, by the way! ;-)
Raccoon's roam our streets every night looking for food and recently a woman and her dogs were attacked, not sure what the city is going to do about the over populated raccoon's, but as long as people stay away from them they are pretty to look at.
- AUTHOR
@AlleyCatLane: Great story! Thanks for sharing. How neat! ;-)
When I was a kid there was a family of raccoons that came to our backdoor every night and scratched on the jalousies. Mom would put out a pan of water and a pan of leftovers and we would sit on the back porch and watch them eat. We didn't get too close but loved our litle visitors.
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