Unusual Facts About Raccoons

Raccoons are easily identified by their facial mask.

The raccoon is a mammal native to North America. It is known for its facial mask and ringed tail. This creature also has paws that look more like human hands than animal paws. They can use their toes to grab, hold and pull things apart. Its mask, tail and paws make the raccoon readily identifiable, and they have other interesting characteristics that may not be so well known.

Sensory Skills

Raccoons can grasp items due to the shape of their paws. They can even open doors. What is especially intriguing is their ability to identify an object before ever touching it. This is due to very sensitive special hairs that are located directly above their claws.

Rotating Hind Feet

Raccoons are somewhat hindered by the shortness of their back legs in comparison to their torso. They don't run quickly and can't jump far. A little-known fact is that this hindrance is mitigated by their hind feet. These can rotate and even point backward. This allows raccoons to easily climb trees and even come down a tree headfirst.

Hunting Facts

Those cute raccoons are also vicious but effective hunters. They usually attack birds by biting the heads off and tearing open the body to eat the entrails. Raccoons are so successful at bird hunting that they can destroy whole local populations of water birds.

Babies

Raccoons have short pregnancies. After mating, they give birth about two months later. Litters of raccoons run from four to six young. The babies stay with their mother for about a year. The hunting instinct is very strong and these little ones are already hunting for food at around nine weeks of age.

Death Causes

Raccoons often don't live out their natural life due to their interactions with humans. They die from being hunted or hit by a vehicle. The most common death due to natural causes is the disease distemper (rabies). Symptoms of a rabid raccoon include aggressive behavior, abnormal verbal noises and a sickly appearance. The most important fact to remember about raccoons is that, though they are cute and cuddly in appearance, you should never approach one in the wild, due to the possibility of a rabies infection.

References

• Bright Hub: Raccoons
• Nature Works: Raccoon