Raccoon

Raccoons are nocturnal, meaning that they are mostly active at night. If you see a raccoon that is acting depressed and unafraid of humans, or excited and aggressive, especially during the daytime, go inside immediately and call your local animal control officer1, because these are signs that it could have Rabies. Click here to learn more about the signs of Rabies in animals.

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders, which means that they will eat whatever is provided to them by their environment. Their diets can vary greatly, but often include fruits, vegetables, insects, small rodents, fish, and snakes. The raccoon prefers to make its den in a warm, dark, and easily defendable location2.

For information about what you should do if you see a raccoon in your yard, click here to go to the Q&A page.

Raccoon pic3

 

References:

1) (2000). Raccoon Rabies. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from The Gable's Raccoon World Web site: http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/vines/4892/raccoonrabies.html

2) (2004). Living with raccoons. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from Project Wildlife Web site: http://www.projectwildlife.org/living-raccoons.htm

3) Image is ClipArt from Microsoft Word