| 1.) What do raccoons
look like? |
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The common raccoon is a furry animal about 32 inches long from head to
tail. The raccoon up to 46 pounds. Its body is covered by coarse grayish
black hair. The under fur of a raccoon is brown. The raccoon has a 8 to
13 inch tail that is gray with black rings. The raccoon is most known for
the black patches or "mask" around its eyes. This mask has a white ring
around it. |
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| 2.) What are the
raccoon's habits? |
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|
Raccoon are very good at climbing trees, for this reason raccoons live
in hollow trees. Raccoons usually live alone. Raccoons sleep in there tree
over the winter but they do not hibernate. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures,
this means they are most active at night. |
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| 3.) What do raccoons
eat? |
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|
Raccoons usually get their food near waterways and lakes. They generally
feed on fish, crayfish, frogs, turtles and turtle eggs in these areas.
The raccoon will also feed on mice, muskrats, insects, nuts, fruits, birds,
and bird eggs. Raccoons will also eat poultry, other fowl, corn crops,
and trash in populated areas. |
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| 4.) What are the
raccoons breeding habits? |
|
|
Raccoon usually mate during the winter months. Young raccoons are born
nine weeks after mating. The female usually has about three or four young
raccoons. The raccoon nest in hollow trees. The female exclusively cares
for her young. The mother will also teach the young. |
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| 5.) How does
man treat the raccoon? |
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|
For many years the raccoon has been trapped for their fur. Raccoons are
often killed for the destruction they do to crops. For these two reasons,
the raccoon population has declined. |
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