Facts About Raccoons
Raccoons are mammals belonging to the Procyonidae family, that have gray or brown fur. They are natives of North America and are found in both wild and urban areas. When raccoons have become too close for comfort in urban areas, professional raccoon management is necessary to prevent animal damage to homes. The following are some facts about raccoons.
They Are Omnivorous
The raccoon can feed on pretty much anything and this enables it to have a wide range of foods, such as eggs, meat, canned food, fruits and vegetables and insects. When living in the urban areas they feed of garbage cans that may contain left overs and other types of food thrown out.
They Are Very Adaptable
Raccoons can live almost anywhere from the urban areas, crowded cities to rural farm and wooded areas. This diversity places them at an advantage since they are able to thrive and find food in most of these places. They are also highly intelligent and are able to access different locations and tell where to settle and where there’s availability of food.
They Are Nocturnal
Raccoons function best at night and sleep during the day. One of the reasons may be because it is easier to find food such as leftovers at night than it is during the day. They also want to avoid conflict with humans and especially those that live in the urban areas and cities.
They Are Very Fast
One of the reasons raccoons are able to survive from attacks by predators and humans is because they are very fast and agile. They can run at a speed of 15 miles per hour. This enables them to also catch prey and run into hiding when in danger. Raccoons can also climb trees and jump. They also rely on the trees to hide in case of an attack by a predator or human.
They Are Extremely Smart
They’re able to practically handle challenges and possess problem solving character such as cleaning their food right before they eat .They also have a highly developed sense of sight, smell and hearing.
They Have Special Paws
Raccoons paws are a bit similar to human hands in that their five toes on each of their paws make it easier for them to grasp, hold, uncover food under water and also examine objects.
They Love Cities
This may be due to the abundance in food and the fact that people will always leave leftovers after feeding and throw them into the trash cans. All in all,raccoons seem to have a liking for cities and towns.
Lifespan
Raccoons have an average lifespan of two to three years in the wild.
They Make Various Sounds
Raccoons have a wide range of sounds that they can make to communicate, they can growl, purr and even hiss. Those with rabies however tend to make very higher pitched sounds as compared to healthy raccoons.
They Are Dangerous If Rabid
One of the reasons humans should avoid domesticating raccoons is that it is a wild animal. That means that its as wild and unpredictable and therefore can never be fully domesticated. A raccoon with rabies can be dangerous to other pets since rabies is transmitted through bites and saliva.
In order to prevent the number of infected people and animals, it is necessary to actively work to develop people’s awareness of the effects that this disease has, but it is necessary to educate the population to know the most common signs that a rabies infected raccoon should look like. The most common signs that the animal is infectious and dangerous are:
- Paralyzed hindquarters of raccoon and its difficult movement in circles
- Disorientation of raccoon in motion
- Confusion and maliciousness of raccoon
- Strange sounds
- Increased saliva and foam in the mouth
- Increased secretion of the tear glands
- Choking due to paralysis
- Unexpected occurrence of aggression or lethargy
If you notice some of these traits in a raccoon, you should not come into contact with it, because it can bring you a death threat. It is best if you see these symptoms, immediately call the local animal control unit or a local veterinarian. Also, if you come into contact with a raccoon, and you are not sure if it is infected, you should immediately go to the nearest health facility. It is very important to monitor the behavior of animals that are likely to come into contact with the infected raccoon. Any kind of suspicion can bring you huge consequences, so act wisely and protect yourself and your animals.