Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Raccoon, carnivorous mammal found throughout the United States, southern Canada, and Central and South America.  Its head is broad, tapering to a pointed muzzle, and whose ears are short and erect. The body is generally short and plump, with a long-haired coat of fur, and the tail is bushy. Raccoons range in length from 0.62 to 1 m (2 to 3.3 ft), including its tail, which is 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16 in) long. It’s the “mask” on its face that distinguishes the raccoon form other woodland creatures. The legs are short; each foot has five toes, and the soles are naked. The animal walks on the soles of its feet with the heels touching the ground, similar to the practice of bears and humans.

During the night raccoons hunt for poultry, mice, birds' eggs, various insects, fish, and frogs. Occasionally, it eats wild fruit. Northern raccoons spend the winter in a den, usually high in a hollow tree, sleeping but not hibernating, and emerging during relatively warm periods. From four to six young are born in a single litter each spring, and members of the same family live and travel together for about one year. The fur of the raccoon has been highly valued in North America since the 17th century. Coonskin caps, and coats and robes made of the coarse but attractive fur, are still worn today.