The most noticeable marking is the black "mask"—large black markings around each eye. Adults can weigh between 15 and 40 pounds and are 23 to 37 inches in length. It doesen’t help that the raccoon is always wearing a “bandits mask” to hide its face. The raccoon's coloration is ideal for a nocturnal species, enabling them to vanish like smoke when harassed. Once ensconced in your home, deceptively cute raccoons can bite, gnaw, rip and tear any siding, vents, shingles, wires, water lines, curtains and furniture in their way. Only 1 left Favorite Add to Raccoon Cloth Reusable Cotton Face Mask with Adjustable Elastic Ear Loops - Triple Layer Sewfunky. Black colored fur indicates the appearance of a mask around the eyes of raccoons, hence, may look like thieves in the night as they travel between properties. The black-footed ferret has a bandit-like mask, similar to the markings found on raccoons. Mother raccoons give birth in dens typically located in a hollow tree, but they may also use brush piles, caves, culverts, woodchuck dens, … Posted by 5 years ago. Not all raccoons have dark masks and black, white, and gray coloration! They have a long and pointed muzzle and hands which they can use for digging, grabbing, and climbing. Find out what the risks are for your pet. You are certainly providing very useful info about wild animals and wild life. To make things worse, they can even carry deadly diseases such as rabies or Leptospirosis, which make them dangerous to both humans and pets. The tail has a ringed pattern and is bushy. Why Do Raccoons Have Ringed Tails? Some hypothesize that the purpose of a raccoon's black mask is to reduce glare, helping it to see better in the dark. Not all raccoons have dark masks and black, white, and gray coloration! Raccoons have a 63-day gestation period and will give birth to a litter of 3–7 cubs (4 on average) in April or May. $9.89 $ 9. Raccoons are persistent, bold nocturnal creatures that perform their banditry at night. Needless to say, my conscience got the better of me and I let her go behind the garage. While raccoons are usually grey, black and white, they may also be brown. In addition, adult raccoons usually range bet… Many people enjoy watching or photographing raccoons. They might look like silent burglars, but raccoons are surprisingly vocal. Raccoons have an intensely competitive nature, which means they will take all you can grow and not leave a scrap for you. Their long tail has rings of black and yellowish-white. That is too bad you didn’t get a chance to see the little guys as I am sure they would have been very cute! Raccoons have some pipes. It's unusual for White House pets to start as Thanksgiving … 4.2 out of 5 stars 19. While these outdoor pests may not look fierce, they can cause quite a bit of damage to your yard and can create a big mess if they get into your trash containers. Raccoons have whiskers on their front toes! , In particular, I liked this post about Raccoons. The raccoons' recognizable mask is not just for fun: It's a way … Raccoons can be a delight to behold, with their bandit masks, tiny hands, and striped tails – but living with raccoon populations can also cause conflict. Don't give your pet CBD Oil until you read this! Raccoons are about the same size as a domestic cat, though they are generally somewhat larger. One of the purposes of Wild Facts is to help people understand a bit more about the wildlife all around us. 486. Once they get into your yard, you experience the frustration of seeing a beautifully manicured lawn rolled back like hair on a curler so raccoons can forage for grubs; from your yard, it’s only a small step toward raccoons moving to your house. As well, this mask can help reduce the amount of glare (similar to the black paint that football players wear all the time) which will ultimately assist with the raccoons… The Torch Key Raccoon of the Florida Keys has a paler coloration to blend in with its environment. This is why it is important to get rid of these pests before they do damage. Raccoons in Washington often have roundworms (like domestic dogs and cats do, but from a different worm). They have a distinctive black mask around their eyes. Wild Fact #710 – I Would be “Shocked” if You Got Stung – Stingray, Wild Fact #685 – The Colour Changers – Sand Lizard, Wild Fact #759 – 7 Years of Bad Luck? These markings may allow the ferret to sneak through the … (This article is part of the support material for the alternative theory of evolutionoffered on this website.) Raccoons have grayish-brown fur over most of their body, and their tails have four to six black rings. Their black feet have five toes on each paw. I appreciate your work very much, and I have added your blogs in my favourites as well. I had a reader ask why I did not have a Wild Fact about raccoons up yet. Any areas that may be infected should be carefully removed, burned, buried or sent to a landfill. As I mentioned there are several interesting characteristics about the raccoon but today I am only going to touch on the colouration of the raccoon. As well, this mask can help reduce the amount of glare (similar to the black paint that football players wear all the time) which will ultimately assist with the raccoons’ night vision abilities. 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. 5 out of 5 stars (66) $ 13.25. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. However, roundworm eggs shed in raccoon droppings can cause mild to serious illness in other animals and humans. In addition to threats to your health, raccoons can severely damage crawl spaces and attics by chewing through walls, sheetrock, and support structures. They extend from the edge of the nose to the lower part of the cheek. A group of raccoons is called a nursery. We haven’t seen hide nor hair of any since. © Copyright 2021 ABC Home & Commercial Services All Rights Reserved, TECL 23492 | TACLA45890C | LI2669 | M-32147 | TICL587. I am a digital nomad who enjoys travelling around the globe while inspiring others to leave their comfort zone and improve their life. Raccoons are warm blooded making them susceptible to many diseases. Aside from being dangerous to human health, these masked bandits notoriously scavenge and decimate gardens. There are a few steps you can take to deter raccoons from setting up shop in and around your home: Although a picture of this masked animal may be cute at first glance, a close encounter with these fanged creatures at night is not a situation homeowners want to be in. Their Mask Has Good Reason. Raccoons have furry coats in brown-gray with ringed tails and a telltale black mask across their eyes. If you ever have any wildlife related questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Even at birth the rings on their tails are slightly visible. Why do I have raccoons? You might think that between the destruction, theft and spreading of disease blamed on this furry animal, raccoons might wear masks to prevent being identified in a police lineup. The best way to protect yourself and your family from the risks raccoons pose is by preventing them from entering your property in the first place. Unfortunately, raccoons are a primary rabies carrier in the U.S., so their bites are dangerous, as well as painful. You might think that between the destruction, theft and spreading of disease blamed on this furry animal, raccoons might wear masks to prevent being identified in a police lineup. One reason we tend to associate raccoons with mischief is the mask that covers most of their face. But mating between wild coons and female cats also occurs. Immediate removal will reduce the risk of exposing your family to the parasites. For more information on raccoons and other useful animal info on co-existing with wildlife then I recoommend you check out SunChaser Wildlife at:  http://www.sunchaserwildlife.com/. I was hoping to get a glimpse of her babies, but she moved them before we had a chance. Raccoon populations do very well in urban areas, primarily due to hunting and trapping restrictions, a general lack of predators, and an abundance of available human food. Damage goes beyond theft, though. Their forefeet have five dexterous toes, allowing them to grasp and manipulate food and other items. They have small, erect ears and a pointed muzzle. Thank you so much for the kind words, Pearl! Between the destruction they can cause and their smell, it’s possible for a raccoon’s damage to reduce your property value by up to 10%. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Carl Linnaeus first placed Raccoons in … The Head And Hands Of A Cute And Cuddly Raccoon Fabric Half Face Mask Mouth Masks with Earmuffs Anti Dust Anti Haze Windproof Mask.