DOCSLIB.ORG

Raccoon Procyon Lotor

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Raccoon Procyon Lotor Raccoon Procyon lotor The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is one of the most common medium-sized mammals in North America. Originally, the raccoon occupied habitats in hardwood forests with close proximity to a water source. Today, the raccoon is found in a wide variety of habitats and is commonly found in suburban and urban environments. This adaptability has led to an increase in the raccoon population, which has created conflicts between people and raccoons. The spread of rabies is a serious concern in the northeast, which increases the chance of its transmission to humans. As a furbearer, the raccoon is trapped for its coat. Trapping and hunting help manage its population to control the spread of diseases. Vermont Wildlife Fact Sheet Physical Description beech. However, if a cavity is not mother for one year, by which readily available, she may find an time the young female will reach The raccoon is larger than alternative den, such as a burrow, sexual maturity. A young male a house cat, but smaller than most to give birth to her young. raccoon does not reach sexual domestic dogs. It can grow to a After a gestation period of maturity until it is two years of length of 23 to 28 inches, half of 60 to 73 days, the litter is born in age. A raccoon has one litter a which is its bushy tail, and weigh late April or May. The young, year. between 12 and 36 pounds. Its typically numbering four to five coat is a mixture of gray and but sometimes as many as eight, black, which gives the raccoon a are helpless and completely salt and pepper appearance. Its dependent on their mother for two most distinguishing features survival. The male raccoon plays Food Items are the black mask around its no role in raising the young. The eyes and the bands, or rings on its female is very protective of her Raccoons are omnivores, tail. Looking like thin hands, its young and will carry them around which means they eat both plants front paws have five digits each by the nape of the neck, as would and animals. However, a better and are extremely dexterous as a a mother cat with her kittens. term may be optivoires, as the result. These features have added The young develop raccoons are opportunistic and to the viewpoint that the raccoon quickly. They are able to open will eat whatever is readily reputation that it is a bandit of the their eyes after 18 days and soon available. Examples of wild food wild. after gain the ability to hear. By items include waterfowl, birds, the time they are four-to-six mammals, insects, crayfish, wild Life Cycle weeks old, they are strong grains, fruit, and carrion (dead enough to stand on their own. animals). Raccoons will also take The raccoon breeds from They are weaned from their human food sources including January to mid March. After mother's milk and begin to hunt poultry, eggs, and garbage. This mating, the female will find a independently by the time they varied diet has led to an increase suitable den site, generally the are about three-months old. The in the raccoon population, which cavity of a tree such as a maple or young will remain with their Raccoon Fact Sheet 1 is the source of the conflict with a family unit. In winter, raccoons increased. In spite of their humans. do not hibernate but do sleep vulnerability to disease outbreaks The raccoon is well more than during summer. and other limiting factors, their known for its tendency to "wash" During extremely cold weather, population is strong throughout its its food before eating it. raccoons occasionally den range. Although it appears to be washing together to conserve body heat the object, it is believed that it is but will part once the temperature Resource Utilization actually inspecting it for any rises. portions that should be rejected. Raccoons are very The raccoon plays an A raccoon's sense of touch is intelligent and are known for their important role in the ecosystem. enhanced when its paws are wet ability to outwit human and They are beneficial to humans and by feel, it will tear and animal predators alike. Raccoons because they feed on many discard any unwanted portions of are excellent climbers and potential pest species, such as food. The raccoon only performs swimmers, which allow them a insects, and on carrion, assisting this ritual if water is close by. If variety of escape routes. They in eliminating decomposing no water is available, then it will have keen eyesight and a animal matter. They are also simply eat its food without further heightened sense of hearing. hunted and trapped for food and inspection. They can also be very aggressive, for their valuable pelt. which aids in their ability to Habits & Habitat escape predation. Management Efforts Raccoons were originally Abundance The fur of raccoons can be animals of the forest. However, used to produce items ranging since European colonization, Raccoons are common from coats to hats. In certain parts raccoons have become common throughout their range and of the United States, the raccoon everywhere. Today, raccoons are preferred habitat. They can be is also hunted for food. Presently, found in almost any area that has found throughout Vermont, but the spread of rabies throughout access to water. They can most are more common in mixed the raccoon population has often be seen along streams, in woodlands or agricultural fields brought added concerns in terms open forests, or wetlands but are near water. They are of hunting and trapping. Hunters inhabit urban, suburban and extremely adaptable to human and trappers should be very farming areas as well. Raccoons influence and can be found in careful when handling animals, as live in hollow trees, ground dens, both urban and rural areas. the virus can be spread to brush or rubbish piles, humans. Hunting and trapping lumberyards, haylofts, attics and seasons allow for control of the chimneys. They use a variety of History raccoon population and will slow sites for rearing their young as the spread and occurrence of well as for wintering dens. The raccoon has long been diseases like rabies. An Raccoons are nocturnal. harvested by humans for its fur experimental rabies vaccine is Like the rest of their habits, they and meat. Its pelt was in greatest being field tested in Vermont to often modify their behavior when demand during the 1920s, when slow the spread of rabies. If you searching for food or water. raccoon coats were extremely see a raccoon acting strange in Raccoons are curious animals, popular. Unlimited harvesting any way, stay away from it and which, at times, can cause placed enormous pressures on the contact your local game warden problems with humans. This has raccoon population at this time by calling the nearest State Police led to some people labeling them and, as a result, their numbers Office. as mischievous and as bandits or plummeted. However, robbers. conservation efforts helped to Illustration: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Raccoons are solitary and revive the raccoon population and Service/Bob Savannah are seldom seen together unless in their numbers have steadily Raccoon Fact Sheet 2 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2021 Fur Harvester Digest 3 SEASON DATES and BAG LIMITS
    2021 Michigan Fur Harvester Digest RAP (Report All Poaching): Call or Text (800) 292-7800 Michigan.gov/Trapping Table of Contents Furbearer Management ...................................................................3 Season Dates and Bag Limits ..........................................................4 License Types and Fees ....................................................................6 License Types and Fees by Age .......................................................6 Purchasing a License .......................................................................6 Apprentice & Youth Hunting .............................................................9 Fur Harvester License .....................................................................10 Kill Tags, Registration, and Incidental Catch .................................11 When and Where to Hunt/Trap ...................................................... 14 Hunting Hours and Zone Boundaries .............................................14 Hunting and Trapping on Public Land ............................................18 Safety Zones, Right-of-Ways, Waterways .......................................20 Hunting and Trapping on Private Land ...........................................20 Equipment and Fur Harvester Rules ............................................. 21 Use of Bait When Hunting and Trapping ........................................21 Hunting with Dogs ...........................................................................21 Equipment Regulations ...................................................................22
    [Show full text]
  • Felis Silvestris, Wild Cat
    The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2008: T60354712A50652361 Felis silvestris, Wild Cat Assessment by: Yamaguchi, N., Kitchener, A., Driscoll, C. & Nussberger, B. View on www.iucnredlist.org Citation: Yamaguchi, N., Kitchener, A., Driscoll, C. & Nussberger, B. 2015. Felis silvestris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T60354712A50652361. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T60354712A50652361.en Copyright: © 2015 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from the copyright holder. For further details see Terms of Use. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London. If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown in this document, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information
    [Show full text]
  • Asiatic Golden Cat in Thailand Population & Habitat Viability Assessment
    Asiatic Golden Cat in Thailand Population & Habitat Viability Assessment Chonburi, Thailand 5 - 7 September 2005 FINAL REPORT Photos courtesy of Ron Tilson, Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program (golden cat) and Kathy Traylor-Holzer, CBSG (habitat). A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Traylor-Holzer, K., D. Reed, L. Tumbelaka, N. Andayani, C. Yeong, D. Ngoprasert, and P. Duengkae (eds.). 2005. Asiatic Golden Cat in Thailand Population and Habitat Viability Assessment: Final Report. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN. IUCN encourages meetings, workshops and other fora for the consideration and analysis of issues related to conservation, and believes that reports of these meetings are most useful when broadly disseminated. The opinions and views expressed by the authors may not necessarily reflect the formal policies of IUCN, its Commissions, its Secretariat or its members. The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. © Copyright CBSG 2005 Additional copies of Asiatic Golden Cat of Thailand Population and Habitat Viability Assessment can be ordered through the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA (www.cbsg.org). The CBSG Conservation Council These generous contributors make the work of CBSG possible Providers $50,000 and above Paignton Zoo Emporia Zoo Parco Natura Viva - Italy Laurie Bingaman Lackey Chicago Zoological Society Perth Zoo Lee Richardson Zoo -Chairman Sponsor Philadelphia Zoo Montgomery Zoo SeaWorld, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Cat Osteoarthritis Pain Checklist
    CAT OSTEOARTHRITIS PAIN CHECKLIST Your Cat’s Name: Your Name: Osteoarthritis pain can be a serious health problem for your cat. And cats hide almost everything, especially pain. You know your cat’s playful ways and what she loves better than anyone. Changes in these behaviors could be signs of osteoarthritis pain. Your veterinarian relies on you to report changes in your cat’s behavior for more accurate diagnoses. If it is found that your cat is showing signs of OA-related pain, helping your cat begins by talking to your vet. COULD MY CAT HAVE OSTEOARTHRITIS? This checklist will help your veterinary team identify your cat’s activities and behaviors that might be signs of osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease that can be painful. Is your cat showing signs of OA-related pain? Think about your cat’s activity in the past week. Check all of the signs that you’ve observed in your cat. Climbing up stairs: uses Climbing down stairs: angles Chasing moving objects: ‘bunny-hop’, with both back body to the side, descends one slows down or takes breaks legs hopping at same time, stair at a time, and/or during play and/or may have and/or stops for a break stops for a break thinner frame near the tail Jumping up: hesitates before Jumping down: hesitates before Running: moves at a slower speed jumping up, doesn’t clear jumps jumping down, makes smaller jumps and alternates between jogging in one leap, and/or uses arms vs. one big one and/or reaches down & walking, and/or back feet to pull the legs up towards the ground instead of leaping angle together If you checked any of these changes in behavior, your cat may have OA-associated pain.1 Share these with your veterinarian healthcare team.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Panda Facts (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Giant Panda Facts (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Giant panda. John J. Mosesso What animal is black and white Giant pandas are bears with one or two cubs weighing 3 to 5 and loved all over the world? If you striking black and white markings. ounces each is born in a sheltered guessed the giant panda, you’re The ears, eye patches, legs and den. Usually only one cub survives. right! shoulder band are black; the rest The eyes open at 1 1/2 to 2 months of the body is whitish. They have and the cub becomes mobile at The giant panda is also known as thick, woolly coats to insulate them approximately three months of the panda bear, bamboo bear, or in from the cold. Adults are four to six age. At 12 months the cub becomes Chinese as Daxiongmao, the “large feet long and may weigh up to 350 totally independent. While their bear cat.” In fact, its scientific pounds—about the same size as average life span in the wild is name means “black and white cat- the American black bear. However, about 15 years, giant pandas in footed animal.” unlike the black bear, giant pandas captivity have been known to live do not hibernate and cannot walk well into their twenties. Giant pandas are found only in on their hind legs. the mountains of central China— Scientists have debated for more in small isolated areas of the The giant panda has unique front than a century whether giant north and central portions of the paws—one of the wrist bones is pandas belong to the bear family, Sichuan Province, in the mountains enlarged and elongated and is used the raccoon family, or a separate bordering the southernmost part of like a thumb, enabling the giant family of their own.
    [Show full text]
  • 2012-13 Furharvester Activity Summary
    Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Furharvester Activity Summary, 2012-13 Matt Peek, furbearer biologist Licenses: A total of 7524 adult and 263 junior resident furharvesting licenses were 31, or in the case of otter, when the 100 otter sold in 2012. This is a 14% increase from quota is reached. 2011, and a 22% increase from the 5-year average. It is also the most licenses sold Historically, the raccoon has been the most since 1987. important furbearer species in Kansas in terms of total harvest and pelt value, and season dates are set to roughly correspond Furharvester license with the time when raccoons are prime (Figure 3). In addition to ensuring the different species are conserved, emphasis is placed on having season open for all species at the same time – so a bobcat taken incidentally by a raccoon trapper in November can be kept, and a raccoon taken incidentally by a bobcat trapper in February can be kept. Last season, over 236,000 user Figure 1. Resident furharvester license sales in KS, days were spent hunting and trapping 1960-2012. furbearers in Kansas. Nonresident furharvester licenses have been November December January February March available in Kansas since 1983. Eighty-seven nd Badger were sold in 2012. The 2 most nonresident Bobcat Coyote license sales on record was 64 in 2008. Gray fox Red fox Swift fox Mink Muskrat Opossum Raccoon Skunk Otter Beaver Primeness Period Furharvesting Season Beaver/Otter Season Figure 3. Pelt primeness dates for Kansas furbearers as indicated by Kansas furdealers. Figure 2. Nonresident furharvester license sales in Harvest and Furdealer Purchases: Kansas, 1983-2012.
    [Show full text]
  • Bringing Pets and Wildlife Into the United States Licensing and Health Requirements
    Bringing Pets and Wildlife into the United States Licensing and Health Requirements Visitors frequently inquire about traveling with their pets to the United States. All such importations are subject to health, quarantine, agriculture, wildlife, and customs requirements and prohibitions. Pets, except for pet birds, taken out of the United States and returned are subject to the same requirements as those entering for the first time. Returning U.S. origin pet birds are subject to different import restrictions than pet birds of non-U.S. origin entering the United States. For more information on importing pet birds into the United States, see the section on Birds, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/NCIE. Importation of cats and dogs is regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC requires that dogs and cats be healthy upon arrival and that dogs are vaccinated against rabies, unless they are being imported from a rabies-free country. In addition to dogs and cats, CDC also restricts the importation of turtles with a shell length of less than 4 inches (linear measure). African rodents, bats, nonhuman primates, and civets may not be imported as pets under any circumstances. Pets excluded from entry into the United States must be sent back to the country of origin. While awaiting disposition, pets will be detained at the owner's expense at the port of arrival. USDA does not inspect or detain pets at U.S. ports of entry. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is concerned with the importation, trade, sale, and taking of wildlife and with protecting endangered plant and animal species.
    [Show full text]
  • Small Carnivores of Karnataka: Distribution and Sight Records1
    Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 104 (2), May-Aug 2007 155-162 SMALL CARNIVORES OF KARNATAKA SMALL CARNIVORES OF KARNATAKA: DISTRIBUTION AND SIGHT RECORDS1 H.N. KUMARA2,3 AND MEWA SINGH2,4 1Accepted November 2006 2 Biopsychology Laboratory, University of Mysore, Mysore 570 006, Karnataka, India. 3Email: [email protected] 4Email: [email protected] During a study from November 2001 to July 2004 on ecology and status of wild mammals in Karnataka, we sighted 143 animals belonging to 11 species of small carnivores of about 17 species that are expected to occur in the state of Karnataka. The sighted species included Leopard Cat, Rustyspotted Cat, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Asian Palm Civet, Brown Palm Civet, Common Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Stripe-necked Mongoose and unidentified species of Otters. Malabar Civet, Fishing Cat, Brown Mongoose, Nilgiri Marten, and Ratel were not sighted during this study. The Western Ghats alone account for thirteen species of small carnivores of which six are endemic. The sighting of Rustyspotted Cat is the first report from Karnataka. Habitat loss and hunting are the major threats for the small carnivore survival in nature. The Small Indian Civet is exploited for commercial purpose. Hunting technique varies from guns to specially devised traps, and hunting of all the small carnivore species is common in the State. Key words: Felidae, Viverridae, Herpestidae, Mustelidae, Karnataka, threats INTRODUCTION (Mukherjee 1989; Mudappa 2001; Rajamani et al. 2003; Mukherjee et al. 2004). Other than these studies, most of the Mammals of the families Felidae, Viverridae, information on these animals comes from anecdotes or sight Herpestidae, Mustelidae and Procyonidae are generally records, which no doubt, have significantly contributed in called small carnivores.
    [Show full text]
  • Raccoon Proof Feral Cat Feeder
    Raccoon-Proof Feral Cat Feeder The floor is ¾” plywood; roof & sides are ¼” plywood. Interior framing is 1”x1” cut down from 2x4’s, also used on the bottom edge of the floor for stability and to attach the sides and metal flashing. Ours is assembled with wood screws to be solid and durable. Raccoons can climb but not jump up very well. The feeder is on a 40” tall 4x4 post and has a sheet metal skirt mounted on the base of the feeder, which The black metal post mounting bracket and green prevents raccoons from climbing up the pole to get spike for the base of the post each cost about $15 at inside. Most cats can jump up into the feeder, but Home Depot. Thin 10” wide metal flashing (usually there is also a low platform to assist those who need found only in silver but Lowe’s had rolls of brown) is help. There are access openings on two sides and two easily bent at the corners and stapled onto the solid walls to protect the food from the elements. bottom edge of the feeder. This feeder is 24” square and 16” tall in order to make the most efficient use of pieces of plywood, and was painted brown to be inconspicuous in public areas. A metal bracket was used to mount the feeder to the top of the post. The bracket bolts to the floor of the feeder using carriage bolts and fastens with lag screws to the top of the post. Rather than digging a hole and cementing the post into the ground, we used a metal base that has a two foot spike welded to a square bracket that clamps to the bottom of the 4x4 post.
    [Show full text]
  • Toxoplasmosis: an Important Message for Cat Owners
    Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Cat Owners What role do cats play in the spread of toxoplasmosis? Cats get Toxoplasma infection by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals, or anything contaminated with feces from another cat that is shedding the microscopic parasite in its feces. After a cat has been infected, it can shed the parasite for up to two weeks. The parasite becomes infective one to five days after it is passed in the feces of the cat. The parasite can live in the environment for many months and contaminate soil, water, fruits and vegetables, sandboxes, grass where animals graze for food, litter boxes, or any place where an infected cat may have defecated. What is toxoplasmosis? What are the symptoms of Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused toxoplasmosis? by a microscopic parasite called Individuals with healthy immune Toxoplasma gondii. More than 60 systems: million people in the United States carry the Toxoplasma parasite. Most people who become Toxoplasmosis can cause severe infected with Toxoplasma do not illness in infants infected before know it and have no symptoms. birth (when their mothers are newly However, when illness occurs, it is infected during pregnancy), or in usually mild. Some may feel like persons with a weakened immune they have the “flu,” with swollen system. lymph glands, or muscle aches and pains that last for several How are people infected with weeks or more. Rarely, eye disease Toxoplasma? occurs. People become infected with Individuals with weakened toxoplasmosis several ways: immune systems: • Eating food, drinking water, or People with weakened immune accidentally swallowing soil that systems may experience severe has been contaminated with symptoms.
    [Show full text]
  • OREGON FURBEARER TRAPPING and HUNTING REGULATIONS
    OREGON FURBEARER TRAPPING and HUNTING REGULATIONS July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022 Please Note: Major changes are underlined throughout this synopsis. License Requirements Trapper Education Requirement By action of the 1985 Oregon Legislature, all trappers born after June 30, Juveniles younger than 12 years of age are not required to purchase a 1968, and all first-time Oregon trappers of any age are required to license, except to hunt or trap bobcat and river otter. However, they must complete an approved trapper education course. register to receive a brand number through the Salem ODFW office. To trap bobcat or river otter, juveniles must complete the trapper education The study guide may be completed at home. Testing will take place at course. Juveniles 17 and younger must have completed hunter education Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) offices throughout the to obtain a furtaker’s license. state. A furtaker’s license will be issued by the Salem ODFW Headquarters office after the test has been successfully completed and Landowners must obtain either a furtaker’s license, a hunting license for mailed to Salem headquarters, and the license application with payment furbearers, or a free license to take furbearers on land they own and on has been received. Course materials are available by writing or which they reside. To receive the free license and brand number, the telephoning Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, I&E Division, 4034 landowner must obtain from the Salem ODFW Headquarters office, a Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302, (800) 720-6339 x76002. receipt of registration for the location of such land prior to hunting or trapping furbearing mammals on that land.
    [Show full text]
  • Animal Tracks Poster 2017.Indd
    MAINE ANIMAL TRACKS (Direction of travel of all tracks is to the right) 1. CANADA LYNX 8. GRAY SQUIRREL 15. BEAVER 22. OTTER 2. BOBCAT 9. RED SQUIRREL 16. COTTONTAIL RABBIT 23. MUSKRAT 3. HOUSE CAT 10. CHIPMUNK 17. SNOWSHOE RABBIT 24. WHITETAIL DEER 4. RED FOX 11. WEASEL 18. RACCOON 25. MOOSE 5. DOG 12. FISHER 19. SKUNK 26. WILD TURKEY 2 1/2” 6. COYOTE 13. MARTEN 20. PORCUPINE 27. PHEASANT 7. BLACK BEAR 14. MINK 21. WOODCHUCK 28. RUFFED GROUSE Originally prepared by Klir Beck All in for the Maine Outdoors Revised by Cindy House; 1975 Revised April 2017 mefi shwildlife.com Play Animal Signs Bingo! The ability to interpret animal tracks and traces takes practice. Here are some tips to help Cut out each square below. Glue squares on a sheet of paper. Glue 4 squares across and 4 squares you hone your powers of observation and instincts as a nature detective. down - just like they are here, but in any order you like. Title your card “Animal Signs Bingo”. Using your bingo card, explore your school yard or backyard for animal signs. Tracks can tell a story about where the animal • Canines, felines, and members of the deer family If you get 4 across, 4 down, or all 4 corners - You’ve got Bingo! travelled from and where its now going. It gives us generally walk or trot. The trail looks like an almost clues about where the animal makes its home perfectly straight line of prints, because the animal places its hind foot into the print just made by the Anthill Half eaten fruit Nibbled branch Bumps on a leaf Hints to identifying a track: front foot.
    [Show full text]