The Courtship Behaviors of Raccoons

Raccoons have specific courtship behavior.

Raccoons are usually solitary creatures that don't travel with other raccoons. One of the few times male and female raccoons get together is for courtship and mating. Afterward, the male leaves and the female raises the young.

Mating Season

Raccoon mating season begins in January and ends in March. If mating doesn't occur in winter, raccoons may also try breeding during the early summer.

Receptive Females

Males venture from their dens in the winter for food and to find a female ready to mate--a receptive female. Females are receptive for a week at most, so male raccoons have a short window of opportunity.

Wandering

While raccoons are typically very territorial, males will sometimes wander outside their territory while looking for a mate. If a female raccoon is not looking for a mate, she'll chase the male away aggressively.

Promiscuity

Male raccoons are commonly more promiscuous than female raccoons. It's not uncommon for males to court and mate with multiple females during one breeding season.

Mating

Mating is often loud and intense. The raccoons growl and bark at each other, chase each other and rough-house a bit. To some, it may appear that the raccoons are fighting when, in fact, they're about to mate.

References

• Desert USA: The Raccoon
• New Hampshire Public Television: Raccoon
• Ohio State University: Habits of the Raccoon