Living With Urban Wildlife: The Raccoon

One of the most adaptable species of wildlife, raccoons are found throughout temperate North America and range as far south as South America. Raccoons are easily identified by their narrow mask-like faces with white patches above their eyes, and their bushy tails with alternating black and yellowish rings. They are about one metre long including the tail, and weigh from 7 - 22 kg. When conditions are favourable, they can live 10 to 13 years. They will produce one litter per year with an average of four or five kits.

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and being truly omnivorous, will eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, insects, eggs, small birds and mammals. They are usually nocturnal although may occasionally be active in the daytime. In cold climates they will hibernate for a good portion of the winter. They are fairly sociable and generally not aggressive, unless threatened, protecting their young or during mating season. They are territorial with a range of up to 5 kilometres. Raccoons are strong and agile and therefore very good climbers. Their long and slender digits make their feet look more like hands and provide them with remarkable dexterity. Raccoons' ability to adapt to different habitats, combined with intelligence and curiosity, have allowed them to become proficient city dwellers. This often brings them into conflict with homeowners as the animals seek food and shelter.

Life cycles in raccoons vary slightly, reflecting factors such as age, health, weather conditions, habitat, food supply and population density. A basic understanding of their yearly activities will help in formulating humane, effective prevention plans and dealing with existing problems.

Winter: As the weather gets colder, raccoons will seek out shelter to escape winter weather. During the winter months, juveniles born the previous year will leave the maternal den site and seek out their own dens. Raccoons mate during mid to late winter, usually between January and March, with a gestation period of approximately 63 days.

Adverse weather conditions, such as snow, severe cold, or a lack of food may cause raccoons to stay in their dens for three weeks or more. Homeowners should be aware of this behaviour when testing for the presence of raccoons and planning raccoon-proofing strategies. It is extremely important that all animals be locked out of the area, not in it. Animals locked in may cause damage to the home and may suffer a lingering death which is inhumane. The rotting carcass will be very offensive for a long time and costly to have removed.

Spring: Between the months of March and June, homeowners should not attempt on their own to remove wildlife. If a mother is locked out with the kits inside, she will do considerable damage trying to get to her kits. If the mother is trapped and taken away, the dependent kits will be left to starve and die in the den. Only when the mother and her kits have been seen coming outside can a homeowner begin to encourage them to leave and repair the entrance area.

Kits are born during this time and the mother will stay with them for up to three days without going outside. Their eyes remain closed until the age of three weeks and they will remain solely in the den site for approximately two months. During this time the mother will go outside on her own to find food. The homeowner may hear chittering noises. As the kits grown and develop, they may become noisier and they may be heard moving about.

After about 2 ½ months, they will slowly start to accompany the mother on her nightly excursions. The young will stay with their mother for nine months, learning necessary survival skills from her. Observe the kits coming out for a week or two and getting to the ground before starting any removal attempts. It may take the runt of the litter several days longer than its siblings to gain the strength to leave the den with the rest of the family. At this time of year, raccoons may being foraging in lawns looking for insect larvae.

Summer: The kits will start to regularly accompany their mother on nightly foraging excursions. The importance of making sure that all the animals are out of the den cannot e overemphasized. During hot summer months when the temperature rises above 25 C, some attics and rooves will become too hot for comfort. Animals may then seek out cooler areas under decks, sheds, patios and other sheltered areas.

Fall: As the weather gets colder, raccoons will prepare for winter by seeking shelter and consuming extra food to store fat for the winter. They may continue to dig up lawns looking for insect larvae. During this season, from September to the beginning of November, raccoons can occasionally be encouraged to leave rooves, attics and chimneys.

Living with Urban Wildlife - a fact sheet produced by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. Please contact the Kindness Club for information on raccoon-proofing your home and humane ways to solve raccoon problems.

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