Northern Raccoon Facts
- This highly recognizable creature most frequently goes by the somewhat informative common name of the Northen Raccoon across parts of its range. Yet, it does have several other general titles. These include such terms as Common Raccoon, Washer bear, and even Trash panda.
- Within the scientific world, however, the amazing animal’s possibly better known by its technical designation. Thankfully, that’s an extremely easy one for the layperson to pronounce, as such tags go. That’s because this awesome mammal bears the formal epithet Procyon lotor.
- The marvel of Nature and evolution received that appellation due to the efforts of Carl Linnaeus himself. The esteemed Swedish biologist recorded the first recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He accomplished this scientifically noteworthy deed in 1758.
- It’s well known for a variety of reasons. The mammal represents the largest member of its Family. It’s also famous for numerous demonstrations of its curiosity and intelligence. Sadly, it’s also known as an invasive species in parts of the world, having been introduced by man.
- Fortunately, the impressive Northern Raccoon appears to be maintaining a thriving population base. That further seems to hold true both within its native range and the regions to which it’s spread. The IUCN thus presently lists the animal as Least Concern on its published Red List.
- It nevertheless still faces multiple potential threats to its continued existence as a species. In this, it faces the same dangers all forms of life on earth today do. Most of these stem from the actions of man. They include the related perils of habitat loss and ongoing climate change.
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Northern Raccoon Physical Description
Like many others in its Family, the beautiful Northern Raccoon generally impresses and intrigues those individuals who encounter one. The animal usually does so, however, due to several reasons. These include not only its intelligence, but also its appearance and moderate physical size.
In terms of the latter, the creature also follows a pattern common among mammals. That’s true since it displays a certain degree of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism. In its case, this trait manifests itself with males typically attaining greater average sizes than females.
This gender-based difference primarily appears in terms of mass and body shape, though. Both sexes of the animal reach a mean body length ranging from approximately 16 – 28 in (40 – 70 cm). The mammal’s tail, however, typically adds an extra 8 – 16 in (20 – 40 cm) to this measurement.
Males reach a maximum weight of up to 50 lb (23 kg), though most never reach that. Females, meanwhile, attain masses averaging 15 – 23% less than that of the males. Females thus tend to have a narrower and less robust body structure. Males also have broader heads and more muscular limbs.
The animal’s also well known for its long, bushy tail. This evolved as ringed with alternating dark and light bands, typically five to seven rings. The tail’s used for a wide variety of purposes, including such things as maintaining balance when climbing and as and aid in insulation during cold weather.
Nature further provided it with a highly useful feature. That’s the presence of dexterous, hand-like front paws with five fingers. These appendages allow the fascinating creature to manipulate objects, open containers, and climb with ease. Its back paws developed as less specialized but still strong.
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Northern Raccoon is its pattern of coloring. It possesses a thick, coarse coat that displays a predominantly grayish-brown, though this also varies in shades of gray, brown, and even black. The coat provides excellent insulation for colder environments.
Nature still isn’t finished with its wonders, however. One of its most highly distinctive features remains that of the black fur around its eyes, thought by many to resemble a mask. This contrasts with the lighter fur on the rest of the face. This feature gives the mammal its iconic appearance.
Evolution further provided this highly successful animal with rounded, relatively small ears covered with fur. Its eyes also evolved as well adapted for night vision, aiding in its various activities. The sensitive fingers provide it with an excellent sense of touch that’s impressively highly developed.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Procyonidae
- Genus: Procyon
- Species: P. lotor
Northern Raccoon Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The captivating Northern Raccoon evolved as indigenous to a surprisingly large swathe of the surface of the earth. This zone of habitation also lies within a region of the globe already well known for its great abundance of natural marvels. That area’s therefore not likely to surprise anyone.
The wonder of evolution developed as native to the beautiful continent now known as North America. There, the remarkable mammal appears throughout the southern portions of Canada. This holds particularly true in provinces like British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes.
Moving southward, though, it’s also comparatively widespread across the continental United States, from the East to the West Coast, including forests, urban areas, and wetlands. Its native range doesn’t end there, however. The animal also lives in many parts of northern and central Mexico.
This amazing creature displays an extraordinarily high level of adaptability regarding its choice of habitat. It’s therefore found in a wide range of ecosystems. All usually do, however, share some basic features. These include proximity to water, climbing opportunities, and diverse food sources.
It’s mainly found in forests with abundant trees for climbing and denning. Deciduous forests, which offer a mix of vegetation and water sources, are especially preferred. Forests near rivers and streams also serve as ideal locations for the animal due to its reliance on water for foraging and hydration.
Yet, it also thrives in wetlands, marshes, and swamps because these areas provide rich feeding grounds, particularly for its aquatic prey. It doesn’t shy away from urban areas, either. Here, it’s also frequently found in parks, garbage dumps, compost piles, and around human dwellings and gardens.
In some regions, the mammal also appears along coastal shorelines, where it forages for shellfish, crustaceans, and other marine life. While less common, it also sometimes inhabits rocky areas and uses caves or crevices as denning sites if suitable cover and food are available nearby.
Much like its relatives across the globe, this unique animal evolved as omnivorous. This attribute allows the animal to play both predator and scavenger roles within each ecosystem it inhabits. The natural marvel further has an impressively diverse diet that varies by both season and habitat.
The successful hunter feeds on a range of various small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and crustaceans. Aquatic prey like fish, crayfish, and frogs also form a fairly significant part of its diet. This holds especially true in the wetland and riparian environments it appears in.
The Northern Raccoon also eats a variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds. This includes berries, acorns, corn, and other agricultural crops, making it a moderately significant consumers of both wild and cultivated plants. In this activity, as with most others, it’s also primarily nocturnal in its behavior.
It breeds once per year, typically between January – March. Females give birth to 2 – 5 young, called kits, in the spring. Juveniles typically leave the mother by fall but may remain in her home range for an extended period thereafter. A typical lifespan in the wild averages approximately 2 – 5 years.
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