Raccoons Overview
Raccoons are highly adaptable mammals known for their distinctive black mask and ringed tail. These nocturnal creatures are found across North America in forests, mountains, and urban areas, showcasing remarkable adaptability. Raccoons are intelligent and curious, often solving complex problems to access food, which makes them notorious for rummaging through trash cans and creating messes. While they are fascinating to observe, raccoons can become a nuisance or pose health risks when they come too close to human habitats.
Raccoons Diet
Raccoons have an omnivorous diet, eating almost anything they can find. This includes fruits, nuts, insects, small rodents, fish, and garbage from human dwellings. Their opportunistic feeding habits help them thrive in a wide range of environments but can lead to conflicts with humans, especially when raccoons seek out easy meals from trash cans, pet food dishes, or gardens.
Raccoons Scat
Raccoon scat is tubular and can vary in size, often containing remnants of their omnivorous diet like seeds, berries, and insect exoskeletons. It’s typically found near feeding areas or den entrances. Identifying raccoon scat is crucial for homeowners as it can signal a raccoon presence and the need for removal, especially since their droppings can carry harmful pathogens like raccoon roundworm.
Raccoons Tracks
Raccoon tracks are distinctive, featuring five toes on both the front and hind feet, resembling a human hand in their shape and size. Their tracks often appear in mud, sand, or snow around homes and gardens, indicating their explorations. The dexterity of their paws allows them to open containers and unlatch closures, contributing to their reputation as clever foragers.