In this breed file on our site we are going to explain everything about the boral raccoon or Procyon lotor, a funny and friendly mammal known by different names such as:
- racuna
- washbear
- mangrove fox
- manglatero cat
This is a species from the United States that lives mainly in the forests of North America, although they are also present in Europe. The raccoon easily adapts to different environments as long as it can be found near rivers, its incredible sense of smell allows it to survive. They are very agile and dexterous with their hands, which they use throughout the day to carry out their daily tasks.
In addition to the boreal raccoon, there are other types of raccoon belonging to the Procyon family, such as the crab-eating raccoon or the Cozumel raccoon. We will provide you with useful information about their diet, habitat, possible aggressiveness or babies, among others. Keep reading!
Physical appearance of the boreal raccoon
Although each type of raccoon has physical characteristics that make it different, in general we find common characteristics that all raccoons have:
- Face: They have a mask of black hair that covers their face, specifically the eye area
- Body: It is covered by abundant long/medium hair
- Extremities: You can show dark or light legs, indifferently
- Tail: It has a thick ringed tail, characteristic of the genus Procyon
The boreal raccoon differs from the other two raccoons by having a greyish-colored mantle while the crab-eating raccoon has one of shades reddish and the Couzmel raccoon has a lighter ringed tail as opposed to the color of the coat.
Its size is similar to that of a large cat, since it measures between 40 and 70 centimeters in length and can reach a weight of between 2 and 7 kilograms, depending on the sex and age of the specific individual. We must know that the male is considerably heavier and larger than the female.
Boreal Raccoon Behavior
The name "washing bear" comes from the tendency of raccoons to clean their food in the river once they find it. In addition, they sit on their hindquarters, just like bears do, because raccoons love to enjoy the water. They are very curious animals and we must know that their sense of touch is highly developed, in this way, they are able to differentiate crabs from rocks using only their little hands. They are also excellent climbers.
These are really intelligent and agile animals that follow an omnivorous diet, something that allows them to adapt to all kinds of media and situations. A raccoon can feed on meat, eggs, fish, shellfish, fruits, vegetables, roots or legumes. As you can see, having a wide catalog allows you to survive in countless situations. Discover all about the feeding of the raccoon including young or adult specimens.
If our intention is to adopt a raccoon as a pet we must know that when young it will have a sweet and good character even as an adult, and if the specimen is not neutered, we can find a somewhat aggressive raccoon or sullenIt will depend in any case on the particular specimen and the education that we offer him during his youth. our site wants to remember that the boreal raccoon is a wild animal and although some people have it as a pet, it is not convenient to do so. Better let the raccoon live in its natural habitat.
Playing Raccoons
The raccoon generally breeds during the months of January and February to give birth in April or May. They will look for a suitable burrow: either in a hole in a tree or in a small cave, and the fact is that the raccoon adapts to the various spaces that nature offers. Once the little raccoons are born, it is the female who takes care of them and feeds them until the end of the summer, when they are totally independent.
Boreal Raccoon Care
There are several ways to care for a raccoon at home, since it is an animal that should not live in a flat or a house, thus it will require a large space to move and run around, a cage to act as a den and a tree where to climb and develop their muscles. You must educate him from a very young age so that he understands how he should act within the environment. We emphasize that it is not advisable to adopt a raccoon when it is already an adult.
Remember that the raccoon is a very curious animal that will love to gnaw, manipulate and eat everything it finds. For this reason, you must be present whenever the raccoon walks freely around the home. Likewise, you should take precautions to keep objects that are dangerous to his he alth away from him.
Since it is a very intelligent animal, we can educate it so that it learns tricks and behaves more or less correctly as far as possible (I remind you that it is a wild animal) yes, you should never use the aggressiveness with him, rather and like a dog, it will be essential to use positive reinforcement. A very useful tool.
Finally add that we must dedicate time on a daily basis to relate to our raccoon so that he feels happy. You should know that raccoons live in small groups, for this reason it is not recommended to have only one.
He alth
To finish we will make a brief review of the diseases that affect raccoons. It is important that if you decide to have this animal as a pet you are very prepared to prevent it from suffering.
First of all it is going to be super important to vaccinate the raccoon against rabiesIt is very dangerous not to do it because in addition to being able to transmit it to us would end his life. We must also be aware of the parasite "Baylisascaris procyonis" common in this species. The "West Nile" virus is also dangerous as it can be transmitted to humans, birds and horses.
Raccoons can suffer from other types of diseases, in addition to parasitic or bacterial diseases such as obesity and hip dysplasia. For these two cases it is very important to follow a he althy diet control that avoids being overweight. Going to the vet regularly will prevent the onset of diseases and help us keep it in optimal he alth.
In the wild, a raccoon usually lives about 12 years, although in captivity and receiving proper care it can increase to 20 years.
