RACCOONS (Procyon Lotor) Edward K

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln The aH ndbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for Damage 1-1-1994 RACCOONS (Procyon lotor) Edward K. Boggess Wildlife Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Boggess, Edward K., "RACCOONS (Procyon lotor)" (1994). The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. Paper 40. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdmhandbook/40 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aH ndbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Edward K. Boggess Wildlife Program Manager Minnesota Department of RACCOONS Natural Resources St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Fig. 1. The distinctively marked raccoon (Procyon lotor) is usually found in association with water. Damage Prevention and Repellents, Toxicants, and Identification Control Methods Fumigants None are registered. The raccoon (Procyon lotor), also called “coon,” is a stocky mammal about 2 to Exclusion Trapping 3 feet (61 to 91 cm) long, weighing 10 Usually the best method for coping Cage traps, body-gripping, and to 30 pounds (4.5 to 13.5 kg) (rarely 40 with almost all types of raccoon foothold traps are very effective, to 50 pounds [18 to 22.5 kg]). It is dis- damage. especially in conjunction with tinctively marked, with a prominent Habitat Modification exclusion and/or habitat black “mask” over the eyes and a modification. heavily furred, ringed tail (Fig. 1). The Remove obvious sources of food or animal is a grizzled salt-and-pepper Shooting shelter around the premises; usually gray and black above, although some not practical as a sole method of Can be very effective, particularly if individuals are strongly washed with controlling damage. trained hounds are used to tree the yellow. Raccoons from the prairie Frightening raccoons. Local regulations may areas of the western Great Plains are apply. paler in color than those from eastern Several methods may be effective, but portions of the region. only for a short time. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE — 1994 Cooperative Extension Division Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska - Lincoln United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Damage Control C-101 Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee birds and waterfowl. Contrary to ally less than half of the females will popular myth, raccoons do not always breed the year after their birth, wash their food before eating, al- whereas most adult females normally though they frequently play with their breed every year. food in water. Family groups of raccoons usually Raccoons breed mainly in February or remain together for the first year and March, but matings may occur from the young will often den for the winter December through June, depending on with the adult female. The family latitude. The gestation period is about gradually separates during the follow- 63 days. Most litters are born in April ing spring and the young become or May but some late-breeding females independent. may not give birth until June, July, or August. Only 1 litter of young is raised Damage and Damage per year. Average litter size is 3 to 5. Identification Fig. 2. Distribution of the raccoon in North The young first open their eyes at America. about 3 weeks of age. Young raccoons Raccoons may cause damage or nui- are weaned sometime between 2 and 4 sance problems in a variety of ways, Range months of age. and their distinctive tracks (Fig. 3) Raccoons are nocturnal. Adult males often provide evidence of their The raccoon is found throughout the occupy areas of about 3 to 20 square involvement in damage situations. United States, with the exception of miles (8 to 52 km2), compared to about the higher elevations of mountainous Raccoons occasionally kill poultry and 1 to 6 square miles (3 to 16 km2) for regions and some areas of the arid leave distinctive signs. The heads of females. Adult males tend to be territo- Southwest (Fig. 2). Raccoons are more adult birds are usually bitten off and rial and their ranges overlap very little. common in the wooded eastern por- left some distance from the body. The Raccoons do not truly hibernate, but tions of the United States than in the crop and breast may be torn and they do “hole up” in dens and become more arid western plains. chewed, the entrails sometimes eaten, inactive during severe winter weather. and bits of flesh left near water. Young In the southern United States they may poultry in pens or cages may be killed Habitat be inactive for only a day or two at a or injured by raccoons reaching time, whereas in the north this period through the wire and attempting to Raccoons prefer hardwood forest of inactivity may extend for weeks or pull the birds back through the mesh. areas near water. Although commonly months. In northern areas, raccoons Legs or feet of the young birds may be found in association with water and may lose up to half their fall body missing. Eggs may be removed com- trees, raccoons occur in many areas of weight during winter as they utilize pletely from nests or eaten on the spot the western United States around stored body fat. with only the heavily cracked shell re- farmsteads and livestock watering Raccoon populations consist of a high maining. The lines of fracture will nor- areas, far from naturally occurring proportion of young animals, with mally be along the long axis of the egg, bodies of permanent water. Raccoons one-half to three-fourths of fall popula- and the nest materials are often den in hollow trees, ground burrows, tions normally composed of animals disturbed. Raccoons can also destroy brush piles, muskrat houses, barns and less than 1 year in age. Raccoons may bird nests in artificial nesting struc- abandoned buildings, dense clumps of live as long as 12 years in the wild, but tures such as bluebird and wood duck cattail, haystacks, or rock crevices. such animals are extremely rare. Usu- nest boxes. General Biology, Reproduction, and 6" Behavior Walking Raccoons are omnivorous, eating both Front foot plant and animal foods. Plant foods in- Hind foot clude all types of fruits, berries, nuts, acorns, corn, and other types of grain. Animal foods are crayfish, clams, fish, frogs, snails, insects, turtles and their Fig. 3. The five long rear toes and the “hand- eggs, mice, rabbits, muskrats, and the like” front print are characteristic of raccoon eggs and young of ground-nesting tracks. Except in soft mud or sand, the “heel” of 4 1/4" the hind foot seldom shows. C-102 Raccoons can cause considerable damage to garden or truck crops, particularly sweet corn. Raccoon damage to sweet corn is characterized by many partially eaten ears with the husks pulled back. Stalks may also be broken as raccoons climb to get at the ears. Raccoons damage watermelons by digging a small hole in the melon and then raking out the contents with a front paw. Raccoons cause damage or nuisance problems around houses and outbuild- ings when they seek to gain entrance to attics or chimneys or when they raid garbage in search of food. In many ur- ban or suburban areas, raccoons are learning that uncapped chimneys make very adequate substitutes for 6" more traditional hollow trees for use as denning sites, particularly in spring. 6" In extreme cases, raccoons may tear off shingles or facia boards in order to gain access to an attic or wall space. Raccoons also can be a considerable nuisance when they roll up freshly laid sod in search of earthworms and grubs. They may return repeatedly and roll up extensive areas of sod on successive nights. This behavior is particularly common in mid- to late sum- mer as young raccoons are learning to forage for themselves, and during Fig. 4. Electric fencing can be very effective at excluding raccoons from sweet corn or other crops. periods of dry weather when other Two wires are recommended, but one wire 6 inches above the ground may be sufficient. Electric food sources may be less available. fence chargers are available at farm supply dealers. The fence can be activated at dusk and turned off after daybreak. The incidence of reported rabies in raccoons and other wildlife has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Damage Prevention and greatly increase the effectiveness of a Raccoons have recently been identified Control Methods fence for excluding raccoons. as the major wildlife host of rabies in Damage to sweet corn or watermelons the United States, primarily due to Exclusion can most effectively be stopped by increased prevalence in the eastern excluding raccoons with a single or Exclusion, if feasible, is usually the United States. double hot-wire arrangement (Fig. 4). best method of coping with raccoon The fence should be turned on in the damage. Legal Status evening before dusk, and turned off Poultry damage generally can be pre- after daybreak. Electric fences should Raccoons are protected furbearers in vented by excluding the raccoons with be used with care and appropriate cau- most states, with seasons established tightly covered doors and windows on tion signs installed. Wrapping filament for running, hunting, or trapping. buildings or mesh-wire fences with an tape around ripening ears of corn (Fig. Most states, however, have provisions overhang surrounding poultry yards. 5) or placing plastic bags over the ears for landowners to control furbearers Raccoons are excellent climbers and is an effective method of reducing rac- that are damaging their property.

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