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Class
Mammals
Order
Carnivora
Family
Procyonidae
Zoo section
Mixed forest
Diet
Omnivorous
IUCN Status
Least concern
Diet
Omnivorous and opportunist, feeding on small aquatic animals, corn, fruit, nuts, reptiles, small mammals, birds and waste.
Lifespan
Around 12-13 years in the wild and about 15 years in captivity.
Reproduction
Females are sexually mature at 1 year and males at 2 years. Mating occurs between January and early March. The 4-5 young are born between April and May after a gestation period of 63 days, and are weaned after 17 weeks.
Predators
Bobcat, American marten, cougar, coyote, gray wolf, red fox and great horned owl.
FAQ : Does the raccoon actually wash its food ?
No, the raccoon does not wash its food. There are several hypotheses concerning the behaviour of an animal that handles its food underwater. The first is simply that the raccoon prefers to look for its food in brooks and ponds as it is very fond of small water animals. The second is that raccoons have a highly developed sense of touch and therefore enjoy the feeling of handling food. A combination of both theories would appear plausible.