Coon in a
cage trap
Raccoon in a foothold
distemper got the best of this guy
Mama removed from a
home Damage from Coon on
the left
Raccoons:
Damage:
Raccoons can tear up property.
They will tear siding up, to make a nest, block chimneys, and also
cause a concern for child and pet safety. They normally do not come
after people, and would rather get out of your way. Feeding them is a
big no no. They may look friendly, but rest assure, they can be rather
mean when touched, and will grab you and bite. If you are bitten, you
are going to get a series of shots, unless you have a way to contain
the raccoon, and get it to the hospital with the head fully intact, and
undamaged. They normally are not seen during daylight hours, except for
just before sunset, and slightly after sunrise.
Description:
The raccoon is a stocky,
medium sized fur bearer. The fur on the back is usually a grizzled
black, washed with gray or yellow. The belly fur is lighter in color
and of little importance to belt quality. Pure "red," black, or albino
and other individual colors do occur but are rare. All raccoons have
distinctively darker hair around their eyes that forms what looks like
a mask. Their tail is distinctive because it has alternating bands of
light and dark fur. Raccoons have a broad head with a pointed muzzle.
The feet are naked and possess five prominent toes. Adults have a total
length in the range of 24-41 inches. They typically weigh from 8-20
pounds. The heaviest raccoon recorded weighed over 59 pounds, however,
it is very uncommon for a raccoon to weigh over 25 pounds.
Habitat:
Raccoon's appear throughout
Iowa. They can be found just about anywhere that food, shelter and
water are available. The largest density occurs near permanent bodies
of water which offer a wide variety of food and den sites. Raccoons den
in hollow trees, junk piles, abandoned buildings and abandoned burrows.
Raccoons are often found in cities and towns. The home range of
raccoons in Iowa is about 250 acres at any one time. Home ranges
overlap extensively and may change as different foods become available
or as they are exhausted.
Habits:
Raccoons are generally
nocturnal, but they may be seen out in the daytime, especially early in
the spring or fall, storing up a fat reserve for the cold days of
winter. For this reason, raccoons have a voracious appetite in the
fall. Shifts in the raccoons diet occur rapidly in the fall as
different foods become available. Raccoons will often den up during
extremely cold or severe weather and take a short winter sleep, but
they do not hibernate.
Reproduction:
Generally, 60% of the females
breed when one year old, while 90% of the females over one year old
will breed. The number of yearling females that breed may fluctuate
greatly depending on population density. Fewer yearlings will breed if
the population is high. Males may breed when one year old, but rarely
do so because older, more aggressive males out compete them for mates.
Males are sexually active from late December through May or June. Most
breeding activity takes place in February. Females have one litter per
year. There are usually three to four young per litter. Gestation is
typically 63 days. Most young are born in late April or during May. The
young are weaned when eight to ten weeks old and may be seen out of the
den at this time. Males do not help raise the young. The young may stay
with the female as a loosely knit family until the following breeding
season.
Food:
The raccoon is a true
omnivore. Some of the wide variety of foods consumed by the raccoon
includes birds, eggs of all kinds, crayfish, insects, fish, frogs,
mice, wild fruits, corn, and nuts. Raccoons will eat food that is most
readily available to them but may become quite selective when food is
abundant. In the spring and early summer over one half of the raccoons
diet is animal matter. In contrast, in the late summer and fall, up to
78% of the raccoon's diet is plant matter. Examination of raccoon
droppings will reveal the raccoon's current diet.
Sign:
Raccoon tracks are quite
distinctive. Tracks may be found anywhere, but the are most easily seen
and studied along muddy shorelines. Raccoon droppings are also
distinctive and may be found near denning areas.
Predators:
Great horned owls, coyotes, as
well as dogs may kill young raccoons.
Diseases:
Canine and feline distemper,
parvovirus, pseudorabies, tuberculosis and rabies are all known to
occur in raccoons. The incidence of rabies in Iowa raccoons, however,
is very small.
Parasites:
Ticks, lice, fleas, botfly
larvae, roundworms. flukes and tapeworms. Recently the raccoon
roundworm has received much attention.