Pennsylvania Animals: Raccoon

(Procyon lotor)

The heaviest raccoon ever reported weighed 62 pounds, or 28.3 kilograms. It was a male and it was in late Fall. Raccoons eat more in the Fall so that they can survive through the winter.

Most people call raccoons "coons". Raccoons are twenty-four to forty inches long, or 300 millimeters, from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. The height of a raccoon from the shoulders to the tail is about twelve inches, or 300 millimeters.

Raccoons live in North and South America. Both the male's and the female's color is alike. Raccoons have two layers of fur. One kind of fur is the under fur, and the other one is the guard fur, which makes the raccoon look fat. The under fur is grey or brown. The guard hairs are yellowish-brown with black and white tips. The raccoon's belly is pale yellowish-brown or grey. The raccoon's feet are also yellowish grey. A raccoon's face looks like a permanent mask. The raccoon's enemies are wild cats, wolves, coyotes, fishers, and foxes. Owls and alligators are also enemies of the raccoon. Did you know that the raccoon is a predator? They eat small animals.

Raccoons live for five to fifteen years. A raccoon's fur was used as money in some places a long time ago. by Andrew

PA Animals 96-97

PA Animals 95-96