For other species called raccoon in the genus Procyon, see Procyon (genus). For other uses, see Raccoon (disambiguation).

Raccoon
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: | Animalia
Phylum: | Chordata
Class: | Mammalia
Order: | Carnivora
Family: | Procyonidae
Genus: | Procyon
Species: | P. lotor
Binomial name
Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)
Native range in red, introduced range in blue
Synonyms
Ursus lotor Linnaeus, 1758

The raccoon (i/r ʔ ʔ k[unsupported input]n/, Procyon lotor), sometimes spelled racoon,[2] also known as the common raccoon,[3] North American raccoon,[4] northern raccoon[5] and colloquially as coon,[6] is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. The raccoon is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of 40 to 70 cm (16 to 28 in) and a body weight of 3.5 to 9 kg (8 to 20 lb). Its grayish coat mostly consists of dense underfur which insulates against cold weather. Two of the raccoon's most distinctive features are its extremely dexterous front paws and its facial mask, which are themes in the mythology of several Native American tribes. Raccoons are noted for their intelligence, with studies showing that they are able to remember the solution to tasks for up to three years. The diet of the omnivorous raccoon, which is usually nocturnal, consists of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant foods, and 27% vertebrates.

The original habitats of the raccoon are deciduous and mixed forests, but due to their adaptability they have extended their range to mountainous areas, coastal marshes, and urban areas, where some homeowners consider them to be pests. As a result of escapes and deliberate introductions in the mid-20th century, raccoons are now also distributed across the European mainland, the Caucasus region and Japan.

Though previously thought to be solitary, there is now evidence that raccoons engage in gender-specific social behavior. Related females often share a common area, while unrelated males live together in groups of up to four animals to maintain their positions against foreign males during the mating season, and other potential invaders. Home range sizes vary anywhere from 3 hectares (7 acres) for females in cities to 50?km2 (20?sq?mi) for males in prairies. After a gestation period of about 65 days, two to five young, known as "kits", are born in spring. The kits are subsequently raised by their mother until dispersion in late fall. Although captive raccoons have been known to live over 20 years, their average life expectancy in the wild is only 1.8 to 3.1?years. In many areas, hunting and vehicular injury are the two most common causes of death.

## Etymology[edit]

The mask of a raccoon is often interrupted by a brown-black streak that extends from forehead to nose.[7]

The word "raccoon" was adopted into English from the native Powhatan term, as used in the Virginia Colony. It was recorded on Captain John Smith's list of Powhatan words as aroughcun, and on that of William Strachey as arathkone.[8] It has also been identified as a Proto-Algonquian root *ahrah-koon-em, meaning "[the] one who rubs, scrubs and scratches with its hands".[citation needed]

Similarly, Spanish colonists adopted the Spanish word mapache from the Nahuatl mapachitli of the Aztecs, meaning "[the] one who takes everything in its hands".[9] In many languages, the raccoon is named for its characteristic dousing behavior in conjunction with that language's term for bear, for example Waschb?r in German, orsetto lavatore in Italian, mos?medve in Hungarian and araiguma (?????) in Japanese. In French and Portuguese (in Portugal), the washing behavior is combined with these languages' term for rat, yielding, respectively, raton laveur and rat?o-lavadeiro. In Dutch, they are called "wasbeer" ("wash bear") and in Sranantongo (Surinamese) they are called "krabdagu" ("scratch-dog").

The colloquial abbreviation coon is used in words like coonskin for fur clothing and in phrases like old coon as a self-designation of trappers.[10] However, the clipped form is also in use as an ethnic slur.[11] The raccoon's scientific name, Procyon lotor, is neo-Latin, meaning "before-dog washer", with lotor Latin for "washer" and Procyon Latinized Greek from ???-, "before" and ????, "dog".

## Taxonomy[edit]

Track

In the first decades after its discovery by the members of the expedition of Christopher Columbus, who was the first person to leave a written record about the species, taxonomists thought the raccoon was related to many different species, including dogs, cats, badgers and particularly bears.[12] Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, placed the raccoon in the genus Ursus, first as Ursus cauda elongata ("long-tailed bear") in the second edition of his Systema Naturae (1740), then as Ursus Lotor ("washer bear") in the tenth edition (1758?59).[13] In 1780, Gottlieb Conrad Christian Storr placed the raccoon in its own genus Procyon, which can be translated as either "before the dog" or "doglike".[14] It is also possible that Storr had its nocturnal lifestyle in mind and chose the star Procyon as eponym for the species.[15]

### Evolution[edit]

Based on fossil evidence from France and Germany, the first known members of the family Procyonidae lived in Europe in the late Oligocene about 25 million years ago.[16] Similar tooth and skull structures suggest procyonids and weasels share a common ancestor, but molecular analysis indicates a closer relationship between raccoons and bears.[17] After the then-existing species crossed the Bering Strait at least six million years later, the center of its distribution was probably in Central America.[18] Coatis (Nasua and Nasuella) and raccoons (Procyon) have been considered to share common descent from a species in the genus Paranasua present between 5.2 and 6.0?million years ago.[19] This assumption, based on morphological comparisons of fossils, conflicts with a 2006 genetic analysis which indicates raccoons are more closely related to ringtails.[20] Unlike other procyonids, such as the crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus), the ancestors of the common raccoon left tropical and subtropical areas and migrated farther north about 2.5?million years ago, in a migration that has been confirmed by the discovery of fossils in the Great Plains dating back to the middle of the Pliocene.[21]

### Subspecies[edit]

A raccoon in Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Four subspecies of raccoon found only on small Central American and Caribbean islands were often regarded as distinct species after their discovery. These are the Bahaman raccoon and Guadeloupe raccoon, which are very similar to each other; the Tres Marias raccoon, which is larger than average and has an angular skull; and the extinct Barbados raccoon. Studies of their morphological and genetic traits in 1999, 2003 and 2005 led all these island raccoons to be listed as subspecies of the common raccoon in the third edition of Mammal Species of the World (2005). A fifth island raccoon population, the Cozumel raccoon, which weighs only 3 to 4 kg (6.6 to 8.8 lb) and has notably small teeth, is still regarded as a separate species.[22][23][24][25]

The four smallest raccoon subspecies, with an average weight of 1.8 to 2.7 kilograms (4.0 to 6.0 lb), are found along the southern coast of Florida and on the adjacent islands; an example is the Ten Thousand Island raccoon (Procyon lotor marinus).[26] Most of the other 15 subspecies differ only slightly from each other in coat color, size and other physical characteristics.[27] The two most widespread subspecies are the Eastern raccoon (Procyon lotor lotor) and the Upper Mississippi Valley raccoon (Procyon lotor hirtus). Both share a comparatively dark coat with long hairs, but the Upper Mississippi Valley raccoon is larger than the Eastern raccoon. The Eastern raccoon occurs in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces to the north of South Carolina and Tennessee. The adjacent range of the Upper Mississippi Valley raccoon covers all U.S. states and Canadian provinces to the north of Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico.[28]

## Description[edit]

Skull with dentition: 2/2 molars, 4/4 premolars, 1/1 canines, 3/3 incisors

### Physical characteristics[edit]

Skeleton

Head to hindquarters, raccoons measure between 40 and 70 cm (16 and 28 in), not including the bushy tail which can measure between 20 and 40 cm (8 and 16 in), but is usually not much longer than 25 cm (10 in).[29] The shoulder height is between 23 and 30 cm (9 and 12 in).[30] The body weight of an adult raccoon varies considerably with habitat, making the raccoon one of the most variably sized mammals. It can range from 2 to 14 kilograms (4 to 30 lb), but is usually between 3.5 and 9 kilograms (8 and 20 lb). The smallest specimens are found in Southern Florida, while those near the northern limits of the raccoon's range tend to be the largest (see Bergmann's rule).[31] Males are usually 15 to 20% heavier than females.[32] At the beginning of winter, a raccoon can weigh twice as much as in spring because of fat storage.[33] The largest recorded wild raccoon weighed 28.4 kg (62.6 lb) and measured 140 cm (55 in) in total length, by far the largest size recorded for a procyonid.[34][35]

The most characteristic physical feature of the raccoon is the area of black fur around the eyes, which contrasts sharply with the surrounding white face coloring. This is reminiscent of a "bandit's mask" and has thus enhanced the animal's reputation for mischief.[36] The slightly rounded ears are also bordered by white fur. Raccoons are assumed to recognize the facial expression and posture of other members of their species more quickly because of the conspicuous facial coloration and the alternating light and dark rings on the tail.[37][38] The dark mask may also reduce glare and thus enhance night vision.[38] On other parts of the body, the long and stiff guard hairs, which shed moisture, are usually colored in shades of gray and, to a lesser extent, brown.[39] Raccoons with a very dark coat are more common in the German population because individuals with such coloring were among those initially released to the wild.[40] The dense underfur, which accounts for almost 90% of the coat, insulates against cold weather and is composed of 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) long hairs.[39]

Baculum or "penis bone"

The raccoon, whose method of locomotion is usually considered to be plantigrade, can stand on its hind legs to examine objects with its front paws.[41] As raccoons have short legs compared to their compact torso, they are usually not able either to run quickly or jump great distances.[42] Their top speed over short distances is 16 to 24 km/h (10 to 15 mph).[43][44] Raccoons can swim with an average speed of about 5 km/h (3 mph) and can stay in the water for several hours.[45] For climbing down a tree headfirst?an unusual ability for a mammal of its size?a raccoon rotates its hind feet so they are pointing backwards.[46] Raccoons have a dual cooling system to regulate their temperature; that is, they are able to both sweat and pant for heat dissipation.[47]

Raccoon skulls have a short and wide facial region and a voluminous braincase. The facial length of the skull is less than the cranial, and their nasal bones are short and quite broad. The auditory bullae are inflated in form, and the sagittal crest is weakly developed.[48] The dentition ? 40 teeth with the dental formula: 3.1.4.2 3.1.4.2 ? is adapted to their omnivorous diet: the carnassials are not as sharp and pointed as those of a full-time carnivore, but the molars are not as wide as those of a herbivore.[49] The penis bone of males is about 10 cm (4 in) long and strongly bent at the front end.[50] Seven of the thirteen identified vocal calls are used in communication between the mother and her kits, one of these being the birdlike twittering of newborns.[51]

Bottom side of the front paw with visible vibrissae on the tips of the digits

### Senses[edit]

The most important sense for the raccoon is its sense of touch.[52] The "hyper sensitive"[53] front paws are protected by a thin horny layer which becomes pliable when wet.[54] The five digits of the paws have no webbing between them, which is unusual for a carnivoran.[55] Almost two-thirds of the area responsible for sensory perception in the raccoon's cerebral cortex is specialized for the interpretation of tactile impulses, more than in any other studied animal.[56] They are able to identify objects before touching them with vibrissae located above their sharp, nonretractable claws.[57] The raccoon's paws lack an opposable thumb and thus it does not have the agility of the hands of primates.[58] There is no observed negative effect on tactile perception when a raccoon stands in water below 10??C (50??F) for hours.[59]

Raccoons are thought to be color blind or at least poorly able to distinguish color, though their eyes are well-adapted for sensing green light.[60] Although their accommodation of 11 dioptre is comparable to that of humans and they see well in twilight because of the tapetum lucidum behind the retina, visual perception is of subordinate importance to raccoons because of their poor long-distance vision.[61] In addition to being useful for orientation in the dark, their sense of smell is important for intraspecific communication. Glandular secretions (usually from their anal glands), urine and feces are used for marking.[62] With their broad auditory range, they can perceive tones up to 50?85?kHz as well as quiet noises like those produced by earthworms underground.[63]

### Intelligence[edit]

An albino specimen in Virginia Key, Florida

Only a few studies have been undertaken to determine the mental abilities of raccoons, most of them based on the animal's sense of touch. In a study by the ethologist H. B. Davis in 1908, raccoons were able to open 11 of 13 complex locks in fewer than 10 tries and had no problems repeating the action when the locks were rearranged or turned upside down. Davis concluded they understood the abstract principles of the locking mechanisms and their learning speed was equivalent to that of rhesus macaques.[64] Studies in 1963, 1973, 1975 and 1992 concentrated on raccoon memory showed they can remember the solutions to tasks for up to three years.[65] In a study by B. Pohl in 1992, raccoons were able to instantly differentiate between identical and different symbols three years after the short initial learning phase.[65] Stanislas Dehaene reports in his book The Number Sense raccoons can distinguish boxes containing two or four grapes from those containing three.[66]

## Behavior[edit]

### Social behavior[edit]

Raccoons in a tree: The raccoon's social structure is grouped into what Ulf Hohmann calls a "three class society".

Studies in the 1990s by the ethologists Stanley D. Gehrt and Ulf Hohmann indicated raccoons engage in gender-specific social behaviors and are not typically solitary, as was previously thought.[67][68] Related females often live in a so-called "fission-fusion society", that is, they share a common area and occasionally meet at feeding or resting grounds.[69] Unrelated males often form loose male social groups to maintain their position against foreign males during the mating season?or against other potential invaders.[70] Such a group does not usually consist of more than four individuals.[71] Since some males show aggressive behavior towards unrelated kits, mothers will isolate themselves from other raccoons until their kits are big enough to defend themselves.[72] With respect to these three different modes of life prevalent among raccoons, Hohmann called their social structure a "three class society".[73] Samuel I. Zeveloff, professor of zoology at Weber State University and author of the book Raccoons: A Natural History, is more cautious in his interpretation and concludes at least the females are solitary most of the time and, according to Erik K. Fritzell's study in North Dakota in 1978, males in areas with low population densities are solitary as well.[74]

The shape and size of a raccoon's home range varies depending on age, sex, and habitat, with adults claiming areas more than twice as large as juveniles.[75] While the size of home ranges in the inhospitable habitat of North Dakota's prairies lay between 7 and 50 km2 (3 and 20 sq mi) for males and between 2 and 16 km2 (1 and 6 sq mi) for females, the average size in a marsh at Lake Erie was 0.5 km2 (0.19 sq mi).[76] Irrespective of whether the home ranges of adjacent groups overlap, they are most likely not actively defended outside the mating season if food supplies are sufficient.[77] Odor marks on prominent spots are assumed to establish home ranges and identify individuals.[78] Urine and feces left at shared latrines may provide additional information about feeding grounds, since raccoons were observed to meet there later for collective eating, sleeping and playing.[79]

Concerning the general behavior patterns of raccoons, Gehrt points out that "typically you'll find 10 to 15 percent that will do the opposite"[80] of what is expected.

On an apple tree

### Diet[edit]

Though usually nocturnal, the raccoon is sometimes active in daylight to take advantage of available food sources.[81] Its diet consists of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant material and 27% vertebrates.[82] Since its diet consists of such a variety of different foods, Zeveloff argues the raccoon "may well be one of the world's most omnivorous animals".[83] While its diet in spring and early summer consists mostly of insects, worms, and other animals already available early in the year, it prefers fruits and nuts, such as acorns and walnuts, which emerge in late summer and autumn, and represent a rich calorie source for building up fat needed for winter.[84] Contrary to popular belief, raccoons eat active or large prey, such as birds and mammals, only occasionally, since they prefer prey that is easier to catch, specifically fish, amphibians and bird eggs.[85] When food is plentiful, raccoons can develop strong individual preferences for specific foods.[86] In the northern parts of their range, raccoons go into a winter rest, reducing their activity drastically as long as a permanent snow cover makes searching for food impossible.[87]

### Dousing[edit]

Captive raccoons often douse their food before eating.

Raccoons sample food and other objects with their front paws to examine them and to remove unwanted parts. The tactile sensitivity of their paws is increased if this action is performed underwater, since the water softens the hard layer covering the paws.[88] However, the behavior observed in captive raccoons in which they carry their food to a watering hole to "wash" or douse it before eating has not been observed in the wild.[89] Naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707?1788) believed that raccoons do not have adequate saliva production to moisten food, necessitating dousing, but this is certainly incorrect.[90] Captive raccoons douse their food more frequently when a watering hole with a layout similar to a stream is not farther away than 3 m (10 ft).[91] The widely accepted theory is that dousing is a vacuum activity imitating foraging at shores for aquatic foods.[92] This is supported by the observation that such foods are doused more frequently. Cleaning dirty food does not seem to be a reason for "washing".[91] Experts have cast doubt on the veracity of observations of wild raccoons dousing food.[93]

### Reproduction[edit]

Raccoons usually mate in a period triggered by increasing daylight between late January and mid-March.[94] However, there are large regional differences which are not completely explicable by solar conditions. For example, while raccoons in southern states typically mate later than average, the mating season in Manitoba also peaks later than usual in March and extends until June.[95] During the mating season, males restlessly roam their home ranges in search of females in an attempt to court them during the three to four day period when conception is possible. These encounters will often occur at central meeting places.[96] Copulation, including foreplay, can last over an hour and is repeated over several nights.[97] The weaker members of a male social group also are assumed to get the opportunity to mate, since the stronger ones cannot mate with all available females.[98] In a study in southern Texas during the mating seasons from 1990 to 1992, about one third of all females mated with more than one male.[99] If a female does not become pregnant or if she loses her kits early, she will sometimes become fertile again 80 to 140?days later.[100]

A kit

After usually 63 to 65?days of gestation (although anywhere from 54 to 70?days is possible), a litter of typically two to five young is born.[101] The average litter size varies widely with habitat, ranging from 2.5 in Alabama to 4.8 in North Dakota.[102] Larger litters are more common in areas with a high mortality rate, due, for example, to hunting or severe winters.[103] While male yearlings usually reach their sexual maturity only after the main mating season, female yearlings can compensate for high mortality rates and may be responsible for about 50% of all young born in a year.[104] Males have no part in raising young.[105] The kits (also called "cubs") are blind and deaf at birth, but their mask is already visible against their light fur.[106] The birth weight of the about 10 cm (4 in)-long kits is between 60 and 75 g (2.1 and 2.6 oz).[107] Their ear canals open after around 18 to 23?days, a few days before their eyes open for the first time.[108] Once the kits weigh about 1 kg (2 lb), they begin to explore outside the den, consuming solid food for the first time after six to nine?weeks.[109] After this point, their mother suckles them with decreasing frequency; they are usually weaned by 16?weeks.[110] In the fall, after their mother has shown them dens and feeding grounds, the juvenile group splits up.[111] While many females will stay close to the home range of their mother, males can sometimes move more than 20 km (12 mi) away.[112] This is considered an instinctive behavior, preventing inbreeding.[113] However, mother and offspring may share a den during the first winter in cold areas.[114]

### Life expectancy[edit]

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Captive raccoons like this one in Bear Country USA are known to live for more than 20 years.

Captive raccoons have been known to live for more than 20?years.[115] However, the species' life expectancy in the wild is only 1.8 to 3.1?years, depending on the local conditions in terms of traffic volume, hunting, and weather severity.[116] It is not unusual for only half of the young born in one year to survive a full year.[117] After this point, the annual mortality rate drops to between 10% and 30%.[118] Young raccoons are vulnerable to losing their mother and to starvation, particularly in long and cold winters.[119] The most frequent natural cause of death in the North American raccoon population is distemper, which can reach epidemic proportions and kill most of a local raccoon population.[120] In areas with heavy vehicular traffic and extensive hunting, these factors can account for up to 90% of all deaths of adult raccoons.[121] The most important natural predators of the raccoon are bobcats, coyotes, and great horned owls, the latter mainly preying on young raccoons. In their introduced range in the former Soviet Union, their main predators are wolves, lynxes and eagle owls.[122] However, predation is not a significant cause of death, especially because larger predators have been exterminated in many areas inhabited by raccoons.[123]

## Range[edit]

### Habitat[edit]

Searching for food on a lake shore

Although they have thrived in sparsely wooded areas in the last decades, raccoons depend on vertical structures to climb when they feel threatened.[124] Therefore, they avoid open terrain and areas with high concentrations of beech trees, as beech bark is too smooth to climb.[125] Tree hollows in old oaks or other trees and rock crevices are preferred by raccoons as sleeping, winter and litter dens. If such dens are unavailable or accessing them is inconvenient, raccoons use burrows dug by other mammals, dense undergrowth or tree crotches.[126] In a study in the Solling range of hills in Germany, more than 60% of all sleeping places were used only once, but those used at least ten times accounted for about 70% of all uses.[127] Since amphibians, crustaceans, and other animals found around the shore of lakes and rivers are an important part of the raccoon's diet, lowland deciduous or mixed forests abundant with water and marshes sustain the highest population densities.[128] While population densities range from 0.5 to 3.2 animals per square kilometre (1.3 to 8.3 animals per square mile) in prairies and do not usually exceed 6 animals per square kilometer (15.5 animals per square mile) in upland hardwood forests, more than 20 raccoons per square kilometer (51.8 animals per square mile) can live in lowland forests and marshes.[129]

### Distribution in North America[edit]

Raccoons are common throughout North America from Canada to Panama, where the subspecies Procyon lotor pumilus coexists with the crab-eating Raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus).[130] The population on Hispaniola was exterminated as early as 1513 by Spanish colonists who hunted them for their meat.[131] Raccoons were also exterminated in Cuba and Jamaica, where the last sightings were reported in 1687.[132] When they were still considered separate species, the Bahamas raccoon, Guadeloupe raccoon and Tres Marias raccoon were classified as endangered by the IUCN in 1996.[133]

There is evidence that in pre-Columbian times raccoons were numerous only along rivers and in the woodlands of the Southeastern United States.[134] As raccoons were not mentioned in earlier reports of pioneers exploring the central and north-central parts of the United States,[135] their initial spread may have begun a few decades before the 20th century. Since the 1950s, raccoons have expanded their range from Vancouver Island?formerly the northernmost limit of their range?far into the northern portions of the four south-central Canadian provinces.[136] New habitats which have recently been occupied by raccoons (aside from urban areas) include mountain ranges, such as the Western Rocky Mountains, prairies and coastal marshes.[137] After a population explosion starting in the 1940s, the estimated number of raccoons in North America in the late 1980s was 15 to 20?times higher than in the 1930s, when raccoons were comparatively rare.[138] Urbanization, the expansion of agriculture, deliberate introductions, and the extermination of natural predators of the raccoon have probably caused this increase in abundance and distribution.[139]

### Distribution outside North America[edit]

Distribution in Germany: Raccoons killed or found dead by hunters in the hunting years 2000/01, 01/02 and 02/03 in the administrative districts of Germany

As a result of escapes and deliberate introductions in the mid-20th century, the raccoon is now distributed in several European and Asian countries. Sightings have occurred in all the countries bordering Germany, which hosts the largest population outside of North America.[140] Another stable population exists in northern France, where several pet raccoons were released by members of the U.S. Air Force near the Laon-Couvron Air Base in 1966.[141] About 1,240 animals were released in nine regions of the former Soviet Union between 1936 and 1958 for the purpose of establishing a population to be hunted for their fur. Two of these introductions were successful: one in the south of Belarus between 1954 and 1958, and another in Azerbaijan between 1941 and 1957. With a seasonal harvest of between 1,000 and 1,500?animals, in 1974 the estimated size of the population distributed in the Caucasus region was around 20,000?animals and the density was four animals per square kilometer (10?animals per square mile).[142] In Japan, up to 1,500?raccoons were imported as pets each year after the success of the anime series Rascal the Raccoon (1977). In 2004, the descendants of discarded or escaped animals lived in 42 of 47?prefectures.[143][144][145]

#### Distribution in Germany[edit]

On April 12, 1934, two pairs of pet raccoons were released into the German countryside at the Edersee reservoir in the north of Hesse by forest superintendent Wilhelm Freiherr Sittich von Berlepsch, upon request of their owner, the poultry farmer Rolf Haag.[146] He released them two weeks before receiving permission from the Prussian hunting office to "enrich the fauna", as Haag's request stated.[147] Several prior attempts to introduce raccoons in Germany were not successful.[148] A second population was established in East Germany in 1945 when 25 raccoons escaped from a fur farm at Wolfshagen east of Berlin after an air strike. The two populations are parasitologically distinguishable: 70% of the raccoons of the Hessian population are infected with the roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis, but none of the Brandenburgian population has the parasite.[149] The estimated number of raccoons was 285 animals in the Hessian region in 1956, over 20,000 animals in the Hessian region in 1970 and between 200,000 and 400,000?animals in the whole of Germany in 2008.[120][150]

The raccoon was a protected species in Germany, but has been declared a game animal in 14 states since 1954.[151] Hunters and environmentalists argue the raccoon spreads uncontrollably, threatens protected bird species and supersedes domestic carnivorans.[40] This view is opposed by the zoologist Frank-Uwe Michler, who finds no evidence a high population density of raccoons has negative effects on the biodiversity of an area.[40] Hohmann holds extensive hunting cannot be justified by the absence of natural predators, because predation is not a significant cause of death in the North American raccoon population.[152]

#### Distribution in the former USSR[edit]

Experiments in acclimatising raccoons into the USSR began in 1936, and were repeated a further 25 times until 1962. Overall, 1,222 individuals were released, 64 of which came from zoos and fur farms (38 of them having been imports from western Europe). The remainder originated from a population previously established in Transcaucasia. The range of Soviet raccoons was never single or continuous, as they were often introduced to different locations far from each other. All introductions into the Russian Far East failed ; melanistic raccoons were released on Petrov Island near Vladivostok and some areas of southern Primorsky Krai, but died. In Middle Asia, raccoons were released in Kyrgyzstan's Jalal-Abad Province, though they were later recorded as "practically absent" there in January 1963. A large and stable raccoon population (yielding 1000?1500 catches a year) was established in Azerbaijan after an introduction to the area in 1937. Raccoons apparently survived an introduction near Terek, along the Sulak River into the Dagestani lowlands. Attempts to settle racoons on the Kuban River's left tributary and Kabardino-Balkaria were unsuccessful. A successful acclimatization occurred in Belarus, where three introductions (consisting of 52, 37 and 38 individuals in 1954 and 1958) took place. By January 1, 1963, 700 individuals were recorded in the country.[153]

### Urban raccoons[edit]

On the roof of a house in Albertshausen, Germany

Due to its adaptability, the raccoon has been able to use urban areas as a habitat. The first sightings were recorded in a suburb of Cincinnati in the 1920s. Since the 1950s, raccoons have been present in metropolitan areas like Washington, DC, Chicago, and Toronto.[154] Since the 1960s, Kassel has hosted Europe's first and densest population in a large urban area, with about 50 to 150?animals per square kilometre (130 to 390?animals per square mile), a figure comparable to those of urban habitats in North America.[154][155] Home range sizes of urban raccoons are only 3 to 40?hectares (7.5 to 100?acres) for females and 8 to 80?hectares (20 to 200?acres) for males.[156] In small towns and suburbs, many raccoons sleep in a nearby forest after foraging in the settlement area.[154][157] Fruit and insects in gardens and leftovers in municipal waste are easily available food sources.[158] Furthermore, a large number of additional sleeping areas exist in these areas, such as hollows in old garden trees, cottages, garages, abandoned houses, and attics. The percentage of urban raccoons sleeping in abandoned or occupied houses varies from 15% in Washington, DC (1991) to 43% in Kassel (2003).[159]

## Health[edit]

Baylisascaris procyonis larvae

Raccoons can carry rabies, a lethal disease caused by the neurotropic rabies virus carried in the saliva and transmitted by bites. Its spread began in Florida and Georgia in the 1950s and was facilitated by the introduction of infected individuals to Virginia and North Dakota in the late 1970s.[160] Of the 6,940?documented rabies cases reported in the United States in 2006, 2,615 (37.7%) were in raccoons.[161] The U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as local authorities in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces, has developed oral vaccination programs to fight the spread of the disease in endangered populations.[162][163][164] Only one human fatality has been reported after transmission of the rabies virus from a raccoon.[165] Among the main symptoms for rabies in raccoons are a generally sickly appearance, impaired mobility, abnormal vocalization, and aggressiveness.[166] There may be no visible signs at all, however, and most individuals do not show the aggressive behavior seen in infected canids; rabid raccoons will often retire to their dens instead.[40][149][166] Organizations like the U.S. Forest Service encourage people to stay away from animals with unusual behavior or appearance, and to notify the proper authorities, such as an animal control officer from the local health department.[167][168] Since healthy animals, especially nursing mothers, will occasionally forage during the day, daylight activity is not a reliable indicator of illness in raccoons.[81]

Unlike rabies and at least a dozen other pathogens carried by raccoons, distemper, an epizootic virus, does not affect humans.[169] This disease is the most frequent natural cause of death in the North American raccoon population and affects individuals of all age groups.[120] For example, 94 of 145 raccoons died during an outbreak in Clifton, Ohio, in 1968.[170] It may occur along with a following inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), causing the animal to display rabies-like symptoms.[160] In Germany, the first eight cases of distemper were reported in 2007.[120]

Some of the most important bacterial diseases which affect raccoons are leptospirosis, listeriosis, tetanus, and tularemia. Although internal parasites weaken their immune systems, well-fed individuals can carry a great many roundworms in their digestive tracts without showing symptoms.[171] The larvae of the Baylisascaris procyonis roundworm, which can be contained in the feces and seldom causes a severe illness in humans, can be ingested when cleaning raccoon latrines without wearing breathing protection.[172]

## Raccoons and people[edit]

### Conflicts[edit]

A skunk and a raccoon share cat food morsels in a Hollywood, California, back yard

The increasing number of raccoons in urban areas has resulted in diverse reactions in humans, ranging from outrage at their presence to deliberate feeding.[173] Some wildlife experts and most public authorities caution against feeding wild animals because they might become increasingly obtrusive and dependent on humans as a food source.[174] Other experts challenge such arguments and give advice on feeding raccoons and other wildlife in their books.[175][176] Raccoons without a fear of humans are a concern to those who attribute this trait to rabies, but scientists point out this behavior is much more likely to be a behavioral adjustment to living in habitats with regular contact to humans for many generations.[177] Raccoons usually do not prey on domestic cats and dogs, but individual cases of killings have been reported.[178]

While overturned waste containers and raided fruit trees are just a nuisance to homeowners, it can cost several thousand dollars to repair damage caused by the use of attic space as dens.[179] Relocating or killing raccoons without a permit is forbidden in many urban areas on grounds of animal welfare. These methods usually only solve problems with particularly wild or aggressive individuals, since adequate dens are either known to several raccoons or will quickly be rediscovered.[168][180] Loud noises, flashing lights and unpleasant odors have proven particularly effective in driving away a mother and her kits before they would normally leave the nesting place (when the kits are about eight weeks old).[168][181] Typically, though, only precautionary measures to restrict access to food waste and den sites are effective in the long term.[168][182]

Among all fruits and crops cultivated in agricultural areas, sweet corn in its milk stage is particularly popular among raccoons.[183] In a two-year study by Purdue University researchers, published in 2004, raccoons were responsible for 87% of the damage to corn plants.[184] Like other predators, raccoons searching for food can break into poultry houses to feed on chickens, ducks, their eggs, or feed.[168][185]

Since raccoons in high mortality areas have a higher rate of reproduction, extensive hunting may not solve problems with raccoon populations. Older males also claim larger home ranges than younger ones, resulting in a lower population density. The costs of large-scale measures to eradicate raccoons from a given area are usually many times higher than the costs of the damage done by the raccoons.[40]

### Mythology, arts, and entertainment[edit]

Stylized raccoon skin as depicted on the Raccoon Priests Gorget found at Spiro Mounds

In the mythology of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the raccoon was the subject of folk tales.[186] Stories such as "How raccoons catch so many crayfish" from the Tuscarora centered on its skills at foraging.[187] In other tales, the raccoon played the role of the trickster which outsmarts other animals, like coyotes and wolves.[188] Among others, the Dakota Sioux believed the raccoon had natural spirit powers, since its mask resembled the facial paintings, two-fingered swashes of black and white, used during rituals to connect to spirit beings.[189] The Aztecs linked supernatural abilities especially to females, whose commitment to their young was associated with the role of wise women in the tribal society.[190]

The raccoon also appears in Native American art across a wide geographic range. Petroglyphs with engraved raccoon tracks were found in Lewis Canyon, Texas; at the Crow Hollow petroglyph site in Grayson County, Kentucky;[191][192] and in river drainages near Tularosa, New Mexico and San Francisco, California.[193] A true-to-detail figurine made of quartz, the Ohio Mound Builders' Stone Pipe, was found near the Scioto River. The meaning and significance of the Raccoon Priests Gorget, which features a stylized carving of a raccoon and was found at the Spiro Mounds, Oklahoma, remains unknown.[194][195]

In Western culture, several autobiographical novels about living with a raccoon have been written, mostly for children. The best-known is Sterling North's Rascal, which recounts how he raised a kit during World War I. In recent years, anthropomorphic raccoons played main roles in the animated television series The Raccoons, the computer-animated film Over the Hedge and the video game series Sly Cooper. The Pokemon species Zigzagoon is based on raccoons and it is classified as the "TinyRaccoon Pokemon".

### Hunting and fur trade[edit]

Automobile coat made out of raccoon fur (1906, U.S.)

The fur of raccoons is used for clothing, especially for coats and coonskin caps. At present, it is the material used for the inaccurately named "sealskin" cap worn by the Royal Fusiliers of Great Britain.[196] Historically, Native American tribes not only used the fur for winter clothing, but also used the tails for ornament.[197] Since the late 18th century, various types of scent hounds, called "coonhounds", which are able to tree animals have been bred in the United States.[198] In the 19th century, when coonskins occasionally even served as means of payment, several thousand raccoons were killed each year in the United States.[199] This number rose quickly when automobile coats became popular after the turn of the 20th century. In the 1920s, wearing a raccoon coat was regarded as status symbol among college students.[200] Attempts to breed raccoons in fur farms in the 1920s and 1930s in North America and Europe turned out not to be profitable, and farming was abandoned after prices for long-haired pelts dropped in the 1940s.[201][202] Although raccoons had become rare in the 1930s, at least 388,000 were killed during the hunting season of 1934/35.[203]

Coonskin cap

After persistent population increases began in the 1940s, the seasonal hunt reached about one million animals in 1946/47 and two million in 1962/63.[204] The broadcast of three television episodes about the frontiersman Davy Crockett and the film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier in 1954 and 1955 led to a high demand for coonskin caps in the United States. Ironically, it is unlikely either Crockett or the actor who played him, Fess Parker, actually wore a cap made from raccoon fur.[205] The seasonal hunt reached an all-time high with 5.2?million animals in 1976/77 and ranged between 3.2 and 4.7?million for most of the 1980s. In 1982, the average pelt price was $20.[206] As of 1987, the raccoon was identified as the most important wild furbearer in North America in terms of revenue.[207] In the first half of the 1990s, the seasonal hunt dropped to 0.9 to 1.9?million due to decreasing pelt prices.[208]

While primarily hunted for their fur, raccoons were also a source of food for Native Americans and early American settlers.[209] American slaves occasionally ate raccoon at Christmas, but it was not necessarily a dish of the poor or rural. The first edition of The Joy of Cooking, released in 1931, contained a recipe for preparing raccoon, and US President Calvin Coolidge's pet raccoon Rebecca was originally sent to be served at the White House Thanksgiving Dinner.[210][211][212] Although the idea of eating raccoons seems repulsive to most mainstream consumers since they see them as endearing, cute, and/or varmints, several thousand raccoons are still eaten each year in the United States.[213][214][215][216]

### Pet raccoons[edit]

Pen with climbing facilities, hiding places and a watering hole (on the lower left side)

Raccoons are sometimes kept as pets, which is discouraged by many experts because the raccoon is not a domesticated species. Raccoons may act unpredictably and aggressively and it is usually impossible to teach them to obey commands.[217] In places where keeping raccoons as pets is not forbidden, such as in Wisconsin and other U.S. states, an exotic pet permit may be required.[218][219]

Sexually mature raccoons often show aggressive natural behaviors such as biting during the mating season.[220] Neutering them at around five or six months of age decreases the chances of aggressive behavior developing.[221] Raccoons can become obese and suffer from other disorders due to poor diet and lack of exercise.[222] When fed with cat food over a long time period, raccoons can develop gout.[223] With respect to the research results regarding their social behavior, it is now required by law in Austria and Germany to keep at least two individuals to prevent loneliness.[224][225] Raccoons are usually kept in a pen (indoor or outdoor), also a legal requirement in Austria and Germany, rather than in the apartment where their natural curiosity may result in damage to property.[224][225][226]

When orphaned, it is possible for kits to be rehabilitated and reintroduced to the wild. However, it is uncertain whether they readapt well to life in the wild.[227] Feeding unweaned kits with cow's milk rather than a kitten replacement milk or a similar product can be dangerous to their health.[228]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Timm, R., Cuar?n, A.D., Reid, F. Helgen, K. (2008). Procyon lotor. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 22 March 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
2. ^ Seidl, Jennifer; McMordie, W. (1982). Fowler, F. G.; Fowler, H. W.; Sykes, John Bradbury, ed. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 851. ISBN 978-0-19-195872-4.
3. ^ Zeveloff, p. 42
4. ^ Zeveloff, p. 1
5. ^ Larivi?re, Serge (2004). "Range expansion of raccoons in the Canadian prairies: review of hypotheses". Wildlife Society Bulletin (Lawrence, Kansas: Allen Press) 32 (3): 955?963. doi:10.2193/0091-7648(2004)032[0955:REORIT]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0091-7648.
6. ^ Zeveloff, p. 2
7. ^ MacClintock, p. 5
8. ^ Other attested colonial spellings of the Powhatan word include: racone, arrathcune, arathcoon, aroucoun, and rahaughcun. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Vol 55, p. 400.
9. ^ Holmgren, p. 52
10. ^ Holmgren, pp. 75?76; Zeveloff, p. 2
11. ^ "Radio Talk Show Host Fired for Racial Slur Against Condoleezza Rice ? Politics". FOXNews.com. 2006-03-22. Retrieved 2010-03-19. Text " Republican Party " ignored (help); Text " Democratic Party " ignored (help); Text " Political Spectrum " ignored (help)
12. ^ Holmgren, pp. 47?67
13. ^ Holmgren, pp. 64?67; Zeveloff, pp. 4?6
14. ^ Holmgren, pp. 68?69; Zeveloff, p. 6
15. ^ Hohmann, p. 44; Holmgren, p. 68
16. ^ Zeveloff, p. 19
17. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 16?18, 26
18. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 20, 23
19. ^ Zeveloff, p. 24
20. ^ Koepfli, Klaus-Peter; Gompper, Matthew E.; Eizirik, Eduardo; Ho, Cheuk-Chung; Linden, Leif; Maldonado, Jesus E.; Wayne, Robert K. (June 2007). "Phylogeny of the Procyonidae (Mammalia: Carnivora): Molecules, morphology and the Great American Interchange" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (Amsterdam: Elsevier) 43 (3): 1076?1095. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.10.003. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 17174109. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
21. ^ Hohmann, p. 46; Zeveloff, p. 24
22. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 42?46
23. ^ Helgen, Kristofer M.; Wilson, Don E. (January 2003). "Taxonomic status and conservation relevance of the raccoons (Procyon spp.) of the West Indies". Journal of Zoology (Oxford: The Zoological Society of London) 259 (1): 69?76. doi:10.1017/S0952836902002972. ISSN 0952-8369.
24. ^ Helgen, Kristofer M.; Wilson, Don E. (2005). "A Systematic and Zoogeographic Overview of the Raccoons of Mexico and Central America". In S?nchez-Cordero, V?ctor; Medell?n, Rodrigo A. Contribuciones mastozool?gicas en homenaje a Bernardo Villa. Mexico City: Instituto de Ecolog?a of the Universidad Nacional Aut?noma de M?xico. p. 230. ISBN 978-970-32-2603-0. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
25. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 627?628. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
26. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 59, 82?83
27. ^ MacClintock, p. 9; Zeveloff, pp. 79?89
28. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 79?81, 84
29. ^ Hohmann, p. 77; Lagoni-Hansen, p. 15; Zeveloff, p. 58
30. ^ Lagoni-Hansen, p. 16
31. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 58?59
32. ^ Lagoni-Hansen, p. 18
33. ^ Hohmann, p.47?48; MacClintock, p. 44; Zeveloff, p. 108
34. ^ MacClintock, p. 8; Zeveloff, p. 59
35. ^ Boitani, Luigi, Simon Schuster's Guide to Mammals. Simon Schuster/Touchstone Books (1984), ISBN 978-0-671-42805-1
36. ^ Bartussek, p.6; Zeveloff, p. 61
37. ^ Hohmann, pp. 65?66
38. ^ a b MacClintock, pp. 5?6; Zeveloff, p. 63
39. ^ a b Zeveloff, p. 60
40. ^ a b c d e Michler, Frank-Uwe; K?hnemann, Berit A. (May 2008). "?kologische und ?konomische Bedeutung des Waschb?ren in Mitteleuropa ? Eine Stellungnahme". "Projekt Waschb?r" (in German). Retrieved 2008-12-07.
41. ^ Hohmann, p. 57; Zeveloff, p. 71?72
42. ^ Hohmann, p. 93; Zeveloff, p. 72
43. ^ MacClintock, p. 28
44. ^ Saunders, Andrew D. (March 1989). "Raccoon". Adirondack Mammals. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-8156-8115-1.
45. ^ MacClintock, p. 33; Zeveloff, p. 72
46. ^ MacClintock, p. 30; Zeveloff, p. 72
47. ^ MacClintock, p. 29; Zeveloff, p. 73
48. ^ Heptner & Sludskii 2002, pp. 1375?1376
49. ^ Zeveloff, p. 64
50. ^ Hohmann, p. 27; MacClintock, p. 84
51. ^ Hohmann, p. 66; MacClintock, p. 92; Zeveloff, p. 73
52. ^ Bartussek, p. 13; Hohmann, p. 55; Zeveloff, p. 70
53. ^ Hohmann, p. 55
54. ^ Hohmann, pp. 56?59; MacClintock, p. 15
55. ^ Zeveloff, p. 69
56. ^ Hohmann, p. 56
57. ^ Hohmann, p. 57; Zeveloff, p. 70
58. ^ MacClintock, p. 15; Zeveloff, p. 70
59. ^ Hohmann, pp. 60?62
60. ^ Hohmann, p. 63; MacClintock, p. 18; Zeveloff, p. 66
61. ^ Hohmann, pp. 63?65; MacClintock, pp. 18?21; Zeveloff, pp. 66?67
62. ^ Hohmann, pp. 67?70; MacClintock, p. 17; Zeveloff, pp. 68?69
63. ^ Hohmann, pp. 66, 72; Zeveloff, p. 68
64. ^ Davis, H. B. (October 1907). "The Raccoon: A Study in Animal Intelligence". The American Journal of Psychology (Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press) 18 (4): 447?489. doi:10.2307/1412576. JSTOR 1412576.
65. ^ a b Hohmann, pp. 71?72
66. ^ Dehaene, Stanislas (1997). The number sense. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 12. ISBN 0-19-511004-8.
67. ^ Gehrt, Stanley D. (1994). Raccoon social organization in South Texas. (Dissertation at the University of Missouri-Columbia)
68. ^ Hohmann, pp. 133?155
69. ^ Bartussek, pp. 10?12; Hohmann, pp. 141?142
70. ^ Hohmann, pp. 152?154
71. ^ Bartussek, p. 12; Hohmann, p. 140
72. ^ Hohmann, pp. 124?126, 155
73. ^ Hohmann, p. 133
74. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 137?139
75. ^ MacClintock, p. 61
76. ^ MacClintock, pp. 60?61
77. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 137?138
78. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 68?69
79. ^ Hohmann, pp. 142?147
80. ^ Riddell, Jill (2002). "The City Raccoon and the Country Raccoon". Chicago Wilderness Magazine. Chicago Wilderness Magazine. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
81. ^ a b Bartussek, p. 10; Zeveloff, p. 99
82. ^ Hohmann, p. 82
83. ^ Zeveloff, p. 102
84. ^ Hohmann, pp. 85?88; MacClintock, pp. 44?45
85. ^ Hohmann, p. 83
86. ^ MacClintock, p. 44
87. ^ MacClintock, pp. 108?113
88. ^ Hohmann, p. 55; Zeveloff, p. 7
89. ^ Lagoni-Hansen, p. 41; MacClintock, pp. 56?57
90. ^ Holmgren, p. 70; Lagoni-Hansen, p. 41; MacClintock, p. 57; Zeveloff, p. 7
91. ^ a b MacClintock, p. 57
92. ^ Hohmann, pp. 44?45; Lagoni-Hansen, pp. 41?42; MacClintock, p. 57; Zeveloff, p. 7
93. ^ Holmgren, p. 22 (pro); Lagoni-Hansen, p. 41 (contra); MacClintock, p. 57 (contra)
94. ^ Hohmann, p. 150; MacClintock, p. 81; Zeveloff, p. 122
95. ^ Zeveloff, p. 122
96. ^ Hohmann, pp. 148?150; Lagoni-Hansen, p. 47; MacClintock, pp. 81?82
97. ^ Hohmann, pp. 150?151
98. ^ Hohmann, pp. 153?154
99. ^ Gehrt, Stanley; Fritzell, Erik K. (March 1999). "Behavioural aspects of the raccoon mating system: determinants of consortship success". Animal behaviour (Amsterdam: Elsevier) 57 (3): 593?601. doi:10.1006/anbe.1998.1037. ISSN 0003-3472. PMID 10196048.
100. ^ Hohmann, p. 125; Lagoni-Hansen, p. 45; Zeveloff, p. 125
101. ^ Hohmann, p. 131; Zeveloff, pp. 121, 126
102. ^ Lagoni-Hansen, p. 50; Zeveloff, p. 126
103. ^ Bartussek, p. 32; Zeveloff, p. 126
104. ^ Hohmann, p. 163; MacClintock, p. 82; Zeveloff, pp. 123?127
105. ^ Bartussek, p. 12; Hohmann, p. 111; MacClintock, p. 83
106. ^ Hohmann, pp. 114, 117; Zeveloff, p. 127
107. ^ Zeveloff, p. 127
108. ^ Hohmann, p. 117
109. ^ Hohmann, p. 119; MacClintock, pp. 94?95
110. ^ Zeveloff, p. 129
111. ^ Hohmann, pp. 126?127. Zeveloff, p. 130
112. ^ Hohmann, p. 130; Zeveloff, pp. 132?133
113. ^ Hohmann, p. 128; Zeveloff, p. 133
114. ^ Zeveloff, p. 130
115. ^ Bartussek, p. 6
116. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 118?119
117. ^ Hohmann, p. 163; Zeveloff, p. 119
118. ^ Hohmann, p. 163
119. ^ MacClintock, p. 73
120. ^ a b c d Michler, Frank-Uwe; K?hnemann, Berit A. (June 2008). "Erste Ergebnisse". "Projekt Waschb?r" (in German). Retrieved 2008-12-07.
121. ^ Hohmann, p. 162
122. ^ Heptner & Sludskii 2002, p. 1390
123. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 111?112
124. ^ Hohmann, pp. 93?94; Zeveloff, p. 93
125. ^ Hohmann, p. 94
126. ^ Hohmann, pp. 97?101; Zeveloff, pp. 95?96
127. ^ Hohmann, p. 98
128. ^ Hohmann, p. 160; Zeveloff, p. 98
129. ^ Hohmann, p. 160; Zeveloff, p. 97
130. ^ Hohmann, pp. 12, 46; Zeveloff, pp. 75, 88
131. ^ Holmgren, p. 58
132. ^ Holmgren, pp. 58?59
133. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 42?45
134. ^ Zeveloff, p. 77
135. ^ Zeveloff, p. 78
136. ^ Zeveloff, p. 75
137. ^ Zeveloff, p. 76
138. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 75?76
139. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 76?78
140. ^ Lagoni-Hansen, pp. 89?90
141. ^ Hohmann, p. 13
142. ^ Lagoni-Hansen, pp. 90?92
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146. ^ Hohmann, pp. 9?10
147. ^ Hohmann, p. 10
148. ^ Hohmann, p. 11; Lagoni-Hansen, p. 84
149. ^ a b Hohmann, p. 182
150. ^ Hohmann, p. 11
151. ^ Hohmann, pp. 18, 21
152. ^ Hohmann, pp. 14?16
153. ^ Heptner & Sludskii 2002, pp. 1380?1383
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158. ^ Bartussek, p. 21
159. ^ Bartussek, p. 20; Hohmann, p. 108
160. ^ a b Zeveloff, p. 113
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170. ^ Zeveloff, p. 112
171. ^ MacClintock, pp. 73?74; Zeveloff, p. 114
172. ^ Hohmann, pp. 169, 182
173. ^ Hohmann, pp. 103?106
174. ^ Bartussek, p. 34
175. ^ Holmgren, pp. 117?121
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180. ^ Bartussek, p. 32; Hohmann, pp. 142?144, 169
181. ^ Bartussek, p. 40
182. ^ Bartussek, pp. 36?40; Hohmann, p. 169
183. ^ Hohmann, pp. 87?88; MacClintock, p 49?50
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186. ^ Holmgren, pp. 25?46
187. ^ Holmgren, pp. 41?43
188. ^ Holmgren, pp. 26?29, 38?40
189. ^ Holmgren, pp. 15?17
190. ^ Holmgren, pp. 17?18
191. ^ Rock Art of Kentucky. Fred E. Coy, Thomas C. Fuller, Larry G. Meadows, James L. Swauger University Press of Kentucky, 2003 p. 60 and Fig. 65A
192. ^ Pamela LeBlanc Pictographs, petroglyphs on rocks record beliefs of earliest Texans. American Statesman. December 13, 2008
193. ^ Schaafsma, P. Indian Rock Art of the Southwest Albuq., U.NM, 1992
194. ^ Wade, Edwin L (1986-09-25). The Arts of the North American ... ? Google B?cher. Books.google.de. ISBN 978-0-933920-56-9. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
195. ^ Holmgren, p. 45
196. ^ A Dictionary of Military Uniform: W.Y.Carman ISBN 0-684-15130-8
197. ^ Holmgren, p. 18
198. ^ "Black and Tan Coonhound History". American Kennel Club. American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
199. ^ Holmgren, p. 74; Zeveloff, p. 160
200. ^ Holmgren, p. 77
201. ^ Zeveloff, p. 161
202. ^ Schmidt, Fritz (1970). Das Buch von den Pelztieren und Pelzen (in German). Munich: F. C. Mayer Verlag. pp. 311?315.
203. ^ Holmgren, p. 77; Zeveloff, pp. 75, 160, 173
204. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 75, 160
205. ^ Zeveloff, p. 170
206. ^ The Red Panda, Olingos, Coatis, Raccoons, and Their Relatives: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Procyonids and Ailurids By A. R. Glatston, IUCN/SSC Mustelid, Viverrid Procyonid Specialist Group Edition: illustrated Published by IUCN, 1994, p. 9 ISBN 2-8317-0046-9, ISBN 978-2-8317-0046-5
207. ^ The Red Panda, Olingos, Coatis, Raccoons, and Their Relatives: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Procyonids and Ailurids By A. R. Glatston, IUCN/SSC Mustelid, Viverrid Procyonid Specialist Group Published by IUCN, 1994, p. 9
208. ^ Zeveloff, pp. 160?161
209. ^ Holmgren, pp. 18?19, Zeveloff, p. 165
210. ^ Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Digireads.com Publishing, 2005, p.72.
211. ^ San Diego's Hilarious History By Herbert Lockwood, William Carroll Published by Coda Publications, 2004, p. 46.
212. ^ Jen O'Neill. White House Life: Filling the Position of First Pet. findingdulcinea.com. November 12, 2008. .
213. ^ Twohey, Megan (2008-01-18). "Raccoon dinner: Who's game? Illinois, it turns out, has bountiful supply of the critters ? and fans and foodies are gobbling them up ? Chicago Tribune". Archives.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
214. ^ Hill, Lee (2009-01-13). "The other dark meat: Raccoon is making it to the table". Mcclatchydc.com. Retrieved 2010-03-19. Text " McClatchy " ignored (help)
215. ^ "Mammals: Raccoon ? (Procyon lotor)". Mdc.mo.gov. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
216. ^ "Raccoon". Nebraska Wildlife Species Guide. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Archived from the original on 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
217. ^ Bartussek, p. 44; Hohmann, pp. 173?174
218. ^ MacClintock, p. 129
219. ^ Bluett, Robert; Craven, Scott (1999). The Raccoon (Procyon lotor) (PDF). Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
220. ^ Bartussek, p. 44; Hohmann, pp. 185?186
221. ^ Hohmann, p. 186
222. ^ Hohmann, p. 185
223. ^ Hohmann, p. 180
224. ^ a b Gutachten ?ber Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von S?ugetieren (PDF) (in German). Bonn, Germany: Bundesministerium f?r Verbraucherschutz, Ern?hrung und Landwirtschaft. 1996-06-10. pp. 42?43. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
225. ^ a b Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von S?ugetieren (PDF) (in German). Bundesministerium f?r Gesundheit und Frauen. 2004-12-17. p. 23. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
226. ^ Bartussek, p. 44; Hohmann, pp. 184, 187; MacClintock, p. 130?131
227. ^ MacClintock, p. 130
228. ^ Bartussek, p. 44; Hohmann, pp. 175?176

## References[edit]

- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Raccoon". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press
- Bartussek, Ingo (2004). Die Waschb?ren kommen (in German). Niedenstein, Germany: Cognitio. ISBN 978-3-932583-10-0.
- Heptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (2002). Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol. II, part 1b, Carnivores(Mustelidae Procyonidae). Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institution Libraries and National Science Foundation. ISBN 90-04-08876-8
- Hohmann, Ulf; Bartussek, Ingo; B?er, Bernhard (2001). Der Waschb?r (in German). Reutlingen, Germany: Oertel Sp?rer. ISBN 978-3-88627-301-0.
- Holmgren, Virginia C. (1990). Raccoons in Folklore, History and Today's Backyards. Santa Barbara, California: Capra Press. ISBN 978-0-88496-312-7.
- Lagoni-Hansen, Anke (1981). Der Waschb?r (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-037-0.
- MacClintock, Dorcas (1981). A Natural History of Raccoons. Caldwell, New Jersey: The Blackburn Press. ISBN 978-1-930665-67-5.
- Zeveloff, Samuel I. (2002). Raccoons: A Natural History. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. ISBN 978-1-58834-033-7.

## External links[edit]

Find more about API at Wikipedia's sister projects
| Definitions and translations from Wiktionary
| Media from Commons
| Species directory on Procyon lotor from Wikispecies

- Raccoon Tracks: general information about raccoons
- Raccoons - Living with Wildlife: information about dealing with urban raccoons from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Extant Carnivora species
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Eutheria Superorder: Laurasiatheria
Suborder Feliformia
Nandiniidae |
Nandinia | African palm civet (N. binotata)
Herpestidae (Mongooses) |
Atilax | Marsh mongoose (A. paludinosus)
Bdeogale | Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda) Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni) Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)
Crossarchus | Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri) Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei) Common kusimanse (C. obscurus) Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Cynictis | Yellow mongoose (C. penicillata)
Dologale | Pousargues's mongoose (D. dybowskii)
Galerella | Angolan slender mongoose (G. flavescens) Somalian slender mongoose (G. ochracea) Cape gray mongoose (G. pulverulenta) Slender mongoose (G. sanguinea)
Helogale | Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula) Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)
Herpestes | Short-tailed mongoose (H. brachyurus) Indian gray mongoose (H. edwardsii) Indian brown mongoose (H. fuscus) Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon) Small Asian mongoose (H. javanicus) Long-nosed mongoose (H. naso) Collared mongoose (H. semitorquatus) Ruddy mongoose (H. smithii) Crab-eating mongoose (H. urva) Stripe-necked mongoose (H. vitticollis)
Ichneumia | White-tailed mongoose (I. albicauda)
Liberiictus | Liberian mongoose (L. kuhni)
Mungos | Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus) Banded mongoose (M. mungo)
Paracynictis | Selous' mongoose (P. selousi)
Rhynchogale | Meller's mongoose (R. melleri)
Suricata | Meerkat (S. suricatta)
Hyaenidae (Hyenas) |
Crocuta | Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)
Hyaena | Brown hyena (H. brunnea) Striped hyena (H. hyaena)
Proteles | Aardwolf (P. cristatus)
Felidae | Large family listed below
Viverridae | Large family listed below
Eupleridae | Small family listed below
Family Felidae
Felinae |
Acinonyx | Cheetah (A. jubatus)
Caracal | Caracal (C. caracal)
Felis | Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti) Domestic cat (F. catus) Jungle cat (F. chaus) Pallas's cat (F. manul) Sand cat (F. margarita) Black-footed cat (F. nigripes) Wildcat (F. silvestris)
Leopardus | Pantanal cat (L. braccatus) Colocolo (L. colocolo) Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi) Kodkod (L. guigna) Andean mountain cat (L. jacobitus) Pampas cat (L. pajeros) Ocelot (L. pardalis) Oncilla (L. tigrinus) Margay (L. wiedii)
Leptailurus | Serval (L. serval)
Lynx | Canadian lynx (L. canadensis) Eurasian lynx (L. lynx) Iberian lynx (L. pardinus) Bobcat (L. rufus)
Pardofelis | Marbled cat (P. marmorata) Bay cat (P. badia) Asian golden cat (P. temminckii)
Prionailurus | Leopard cat (P. bengalensis) Iriomote cat (P. iriomotensis) Flat-headed cat (P. planiceps) Rusty-spotted cat (P. rubiginosus) Fishing cat (P. viverrinus)
Profelis | African golden cat (P. aurata)
Puma | Cougar (P. concolor) Jaguarundi (P. yagouaroundi)
Pantherinae |
Panthera | Lion (P. leo) Jaguar (P. onca) Leopard (P. pardus) Tiger (P. tigris)
Uncia | Snow leopard (U. uncia)
Neofelis | Clouded leopard (N. nebulosa) Sunda clouded leopard (N. diardi)
Family Viverridae (includes Civets)
Paradoxurinae |
Arctictis | Binturong (A. binturong)
Arctogalidia | Small-toothed palm civet (A. trivirgata)
Macrogalidia | Sulawesi palm civet (M. musschenbroekii)
Paguma | Masked palm civet (P. larvata)
Paradoxurus | Golden wet-zone palm civet (P. aureus) Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus) Jerdon's palm civet (P. jerdoni) Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)
Hemigalinae |
Chrotogale | Owston's palm civet (C. owstoni)
Cynogale | Otter civet (C. bennettii)
Diplogale | Hose's palm civet (D. hosei)
Hemigalus | Banded palm civet (H. derbyanus)
Prionodontinae (Asiatic linsangs) |
Prionodon | Banded linsang (P. linsang) Spotted linsang (P. pardicolor)
Viverrinae |
Civettictis | African civet (C. civetta)
Genetta (Genets) | Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica) Angolan genet (G. angolensis) Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni) Crested servaline genet (G. cristata) Common genet (G. genetta) Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni) Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata) Pardine genet (G. pardina) Aquatic genet (G. piscivora) King genet (G. poensis) Servaline genet (G. servalina) Haussa genet (G. thierryi) Cape genet (G. tigrina) Giant gorest genet (G. victoriae)
Poiana | African linsang (P. richardsonii) Leighton's linsang (P. leightoni)
Viverra | Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina) Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila) Malayan civet (V. tangalunga) Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)
Viverricula | Small Indian civet (V. indica)
Family Eupleridae
Euplerinae |
Cryptoprocta | Fossa (C. ferox)
Eupleres | Falanouc (E. goudotii)
Fossa | Malagasy civet (F. fossana)
Galidiinae |
Galidia | Ring-tailed mongoose (G. elegans)
Galidictis | Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata) Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)
Mungotictis | Narrow-striped mongoose (M. decemlineata)
Salanoia | Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor) Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)
Suborder Caniformia (cont. below)
Ursidae (Bears) |
Ailuropoda | Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)
Helarctos | Sun bear (H. malayanus)
Melursus | Sloth bear (M. ursinus)
Tremarctos | Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)
Ursus | American black bear (U. americanus) Brown bear (U. arctos) Polar bear (U. maritimus) Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
Mephitidae (Skunks) |
Conepatus (Hog-nosed skunks) | Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga) Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii) American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus) Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis | Hooded skunk (M. macroura) Striped skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus | Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis) Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale (Spotted skunks) | Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons) Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis) Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius) Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae |
Bassaricyon (Olingos) | Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni) Northern olingo (B. gabbii) Western lowland olingo (B. medius) Olinguito (B. neblina)
Bassariscus | Ring-tailed cat (B. astutus) Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Nasua (Coatis inclusive) | White-nosed coati (N. narica) South American coati (N. nasua)
Nasuella (Coatis inclusive) | Western mountain coati (N. olivacea) Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
Potos | Kinkajou (P. flavus)
Procyon | Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus) Raccoon (P. lotor) Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Ailuridae |
Ailurus | Red panda (A. fulgens)
Suborder Caniformia (cont. above)
Otariidae (Eared seals) (includes fur seals and sea lions) (Pinniped inclusive) |
Arctocephalus | South American fur seal (A. australis) Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri) Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis) Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella) Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii) Brown fur seal (A. pusillus) Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi) Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)
Callorhinus | Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)
Eumetopias | Steller sea lion (E. jubatus)
Neophoca | Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)
Otaria | South American sea lion (O. flavescens)
Phocarctos | New Zealand sea lion (P. hookeri)
Zalophus | California sea lion (Z. californianus) Galápagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki)
Odobenidae (Pinniped inclusive) |
Odobenus | Walrus (O. rosmarus)
Phocidae (Earless seals) (Pinniped inclusive) |
Cystophora | Hooded seal (C. cristata)
Erignathus | Bearded seal (E. barbatus)
Halichoerus | Gray seal (H. grypus)
Histriophoca | Ribbon seal (H. fasciata)
Hydrurga | Leopard seal (H. leptonyx)
Leptonychotes | Weddell seal (L. weddellii)
Lobodon | Crabeater seal (L. carcinophagus)
Mirounga (Elephant seals) | Northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris) Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)
Monachus | Mediterranean monk seal (M. monachus) Hawaiian monk seal (M. schauinslandi)
Ommatophoca | Ross seal (O. rossi)
Pagophilus | Harp seal (P. groenlandicus)
Phoca | Spotted seal (P. largha) Harbor seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa | Caspian seal (P. caspica) Ringed seal (P. hispida) Baikal seal (P. sibirica)
Canidae | Large family listed below
Mustelidae | Large family listed below
Family Canidae
Atelocynus | Short-eared dog (A. microtis)
Canis | Side-striped jackal (C. adustus) Golden jackal (C. aureus) Coyote (C. latrans) Gray wolf (C. lupus) Arctic Wolf (C. lupus arctos) Dog (C. lupus familiaris) Black-backed jackal (C. mesomelas) Red wolf (C. rufus) Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)
Cerdocyon | Crab-eating fox (C. thous)
Chrysocyon | Maned wolf (C. brachyurus)
Cuon | Dhole (C. alpinus)
Lycalopex | Culpeo (L. culpaeus) Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes) South American gray fox (L. griseus) Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus) Sechuran fox (L. sechurae) Hoary fox (L. vetulus)
Lycaon | African wild dog (L. pictus)
Nyctereutes | Raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)
Otocyon | Bat-eared fox (O. megalotis)
Speothos | Bush dog (S. venaticus)
Urocyon | Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus) Island fox (U. littoralis)
Vulpes | Bengal fox (V. bengalensis) Blanford's fox (V. cana) Cape fox (V. chama) Corsac fox (V. corsac) Tibetan sand fox (V. ferrilata) Arctic fox (V. lagopus) Kit fox (V. macrotis) Pale fox (V. pallida) Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli) Swift fox (V. velox) Red fox (V. vulpes) Fennec fox (V. zerda)
Family Mustelidae
Lutrinae (Otters) |
Aonyx | African clawless otter (A. capensis) Oriental small-clawed otter (A. cinerea)
Enhydra | Sea otter (E. lutris)
Hydrictis | Spotted-necked otter (H. maculicollis)
Lontra | North American river otter (L. canadensis) Marine otter (L. felina) Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis) Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Lutra | European otter (L. lutra) Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale | Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Pteronura | Giant otter (P. brasiliensis)
Mustelinae (including badgers) |
Arctonyx | Hog badger (A. collaris)
Eira | Tayra (E. barbara)
Galictis | Lesser grison (G. cuja) Greater grison (G. vittata)
Gulo | Wolverine (G. gulo)
Ictonyx | Saharan striped polecat (I. libyca) Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lyncodon | Patagonian weasel (L. patagonicus)
Martes (Martens) | American marten (M. americana) Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula) Beech marten (M. foina) Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii) European pine marten (M. martes) Japanese marten (M. melampus) Fisher (M. pennanti) Sable (M. zibellina)
Meles | Japanese badger (M. anakuma) Asian badger (M. leucurus) European badger (M. meles)
Mellivora | Honey badger (M. capensis)
Melogale (Ferret-badgers) | Bornean ferret-badger (M. everetti) Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata) Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis) Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
Mustela (Weasels and Ferrets) | Amazon weasel (M. africana) Mountain weasel (M. altaica) Stoat (M. erminea) Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii) Colombian weasel (M. felipei) Long-tailed weasel (M. frenata) Japanese weasel (M. itatsi) Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah) European mink (M. lutreola) Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina) Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes) Least weasel (M. nivalis) Malayan weasel (M. nudipes) European polecat (M. putorius) Siberian weasel (M. sibirica) Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa) Egyptian weasel (M. subpalmata)
Neovison | American mink (N. vison)
Poecilogale | African striped weasel (P. albinucha)
Taxidea | American badger (T. taxus)
Vormela | Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)

Game animals and shooting in the United States
Game birds | Bobwhite Quail Chukar Hungarian Partridge Prairie Chicken Mourning Dove Ring-necked Pheasant Ptarmigan Ruffed Grouse Sharp-tailed Grouse Snipe (Common Snipe) Spruce Grouse Turkey Woodcock |
Waterfowl | Black Duck Canada Goose Canvasback Gadwall Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Mallard Northern Pintail Redhead Ross's Goose Snow Goose Wood Duck
Big game | Bighorn Sheep Black Bear Razorback Brown Bear Bison (Buffalo) Caribou Cougar (Mountain Lion) Elk Moose White-tailed deer Gray wolf Mountain goat Mule Deer Pronghorn Muskox Dall Sheep Polar Bear
Other quarry | American alligator Bobcat Coyote Fox Squirrel Gray Fox Gray Squirrel Opossum Rabbit Red Fox Snowshoe Hare
See also | Bear hunting Big game hunting Bison hunting Deer hunting Waterfowl hunting Wolf hunting Upland hunting