Raccoon gargle. The lifestyle and habitat of the raccoon gargle. About the raccoon raccoon in the wild and at home Who is the raccoon raccoon

striped beast

In the cartoon - a cute "baby", in life - a valuable furry animal

Forest washerwoman

Not a sperm whale, not a hippopotamus, but also a rhyme for the word cat

He happens to be a gargle and a cancer eater

Predatory mammal with dark yellow valuable fur

capped beast

This animal from the famous cartoon was afraid of his reflection in the river

I followed the sedge to the pond

fur animal

. "relative" of the red panda

scared of the reflection

Furry laundry lover

Beast with the image of a clean

Panda as a representative of the animal world

. "sinking..." (palindrome)

This Baby smiled at his reflection in the water

This is the main Canadian predator, cute, with human-like handles.

Thanks to the song of this hero, we learned that friendship begins with a smile

Russian merchants who traded with the West in the sixteenth century first encountered the skins of an unknown animal, which the Americans called "rakun", but what do we call it now?

This animal devotes 22% of its active time to palpation, and most often - on the shore of a reservoir, its Indian name is “the one who scratches with his hands”, but what do we call him?

. "Wasche" is German for "washing", "bar" is German for "bear", and what animal do the Germans call "waschebar"?

According to some legends, at a meeting of animals, where the question was decided whether to be on Earth for eternal day or eternal night, in the end, after a long debate, a chipmunk spoke and, without further ado, pointed to the tail of his neighbor, and who was this neighbor?

Who was Roni - the mascot Olympic Games in Lake Placid?

Cute cartoon baby

striped gargle

Baby with a "song about a smile"

An animal with the habits of a washerwoman

Baby Animal Cartoon

fur animal

Furry animal

Both gargle and crawfish

Fought with those who are in the pond

Poloskun or crayfish

cartoon baby

Animal-crayfish

Atrocious gargle

Animal with valuable fur

Eraser Beast

animal with beautiful fur

Cancer Beast

cartoon baby

. "smile, baby..."

Clean animal

Poloskun and cancer eater

. "laundress" in a valuable fur coat

Sang about a smile

Valuable gargle

. "Washerwoman" from Durov's corner

Who sang to us about a smile?

cartoon baby

fluffy gargle

The brutal status of the gargle

Poloskun

Fur of the crustacean

furry crustacean

The hero of the film "Forest Brothers"

Laundress in the animal world

Killed in cut u. e.

The little one who smiled at the reflection

Handsome man who sang about a smile

Furry animal in a "mask"

Poloskun, crawfish and kinkajou

Fur gargle

Furry animal

Little Beast (m/f)

Furry lover of clean food

Performer of the song "From a smile" in the famous cartoon

Who was Roni's mascot? (Olympus.)

fur predator

Furry animal with a muzzle in a "mask"

Fur washerwoman

Baby - animal from m / f

The animal in the mask

wild gargle

Predatory fur animal

Kindred panda

Played a laundress in a living corner

Kinkajou like an animal

Cartoon Tiny Beast

Tresmarias...

funny furry animal

An animal that knows a lot about laundry

funny animal

Fur fan of washing

Nosuha like a beast

Fluffy crayfish and crayfish

Cozumel...

An animal skilled in laundry

Crayfish "dressed" in fur

Poloskun animal

The animal in the "mask", but not a panda

predatory animal

. "Washerwoman" from a living corner

Furry crayfish lover

Forest fur animal

fur animal

Predatory mammal with dark yellow valuable fur

Furry animal, predatory mammal of the raccoon family

. "Laundress" from Durov's Corner

. "Laundress" from a living corner

. "Relative" of the red panda

. "Sinking..." (palindrome)

. "Laundress" in a valuable fur coat

. "Smile, baby..."

This animal devotes 22% of its active time to palpation, and most often - on the shore of a reservoir, its Indian name is "the one who scratches with his hands", and what we call him

In the cartoon - a cute "baby", in life - a valuable furry animal

The hero of the film "Forest Brothers"

The animal in the mask

The animal in the "mask", but not a panda

Performer of the song "From a smile" in the famous cartoon

Baby - animal from m / f

Baby - cartoon animal

Baby - animal from the Soviet cartoon

Baby with a "song about a smile"

Who sang to us about a smile

M. is a small American beast of the bear family, racoon, gargle bear, Ursus lotor. The first raccoon furs were brought to St. Petersburg to the Cabinet, and the Greek Gennadi was in charge of them; the buyers called them Genadievs, from which, as if, they made a raccoon. However, the raccoon weaver is called Viverra Genetta; and although this is a completely different animal, is it not closer to the point to look for connections here? We have raccoon furs in the most common use. southern sib. there is a raccoon animal, locally manal and mangut, according to the description, it is very similar to the American

Furry animal in a "mask"

Furry animal with a muzzle in the "mask"

Cancer or gargle

Crayfish "dressed" in fur

Russian merchants who traded with the West in the sixteenth century first met with the skins of an unknown animal, which the Americans called "rakun", and as we call it now

Killed in abbreviation c.u.

fur animal

An animal with the habits of a washerwoman

The animal in the "mask", but not a panda

Little cartoon animal

Kinkajou like an animal

Furry animal in a "mask"

Furry animal with a muzzle in the "mask"

cartoon animal baby

On the net, many say that the raccoon is a bear, and some even refer to dogs. However, this is completely false information. Of course, the raccoon is a predator that belongs to the raccoon family. So a raccoon is a raccoon.

However, the raccoon has collected the physiological and behavioral characteristics of many living creatures. Recent studies show that the intelligence of a raccoon is similar to the development of a five-year-old child: just as cheerful, playful and overly curious. From foxes, the raccoon received incredible cunning when tracking down prey on the hunt. Since raccoons are omnivores, finding food is not difficult. Raccoons love sweet berries and fruits, and they are not averse to kidnapping domestic chicken, plundering a quail nest, catching a crayfish or profiting from caviar on the coastline.

Paws - from beavers and primates.

The brushes of raccoon paws are very similar to human hands and they also have five fingers, few people know, but their paws are very similar to those of a beaver. The most dexterous limbs among all animals belong to primates and beavers. In primates, it is set aside for easy grip and fine manipulation. thumb, and beavers have achieved amazing skill in building dams and lodges thanks to the little finger, which can easily move aside. Raccoon paws have a combination of both of the above limbs: on their front paws, both the little finger and the thumb are separated. At the same time, the brushes are so similar to human ones that one of the Indian names for a raccoon is translated as " a little bear with human hands.

But main feature steel raccoon paws that help the raccoon navigate underwater and in pitch darkness. With the help of vibrissae, the raccoon not only finds food, but also frees its eyes, which allows the raccoon to receive information about the surrounding space from two different sources: vision and vibrissa. Thus, the raccoon can look in one direction and track the approaching danger, and scan the space under water with its paws in search of food.

Swimming - from the otter .

And everything connected with it. A raccoon rinses everything in the water: prey, toys, and even himself. Like otters, raccoons live near water. Raccoons are excellent, albeit lazy, swimmers. The mother of the raccoon begins to teach the babies to swim in the second month of life, where the babies play on the coastline in search of snails and frogs. By the way, if there is no lake or reservoir in the forest, then you will never meet a raccoon there. The animals spend about 3 hours a day in the water.

Night vision is from a cat.

The raccoon boasts excellent eyesight and keen hearing. Raccoons are nocturnal predators, so this is a must for survival and foraging. Thanks to these cat skills, the raccoon is very active. night image life, for example, a raccoon can reach speeds of up to 24 km / h in total darkness. With raccoon hooligan habits, this ability is priceless.

Hibernation - from a bear.

Despite the thick fur, raccoons are very thermophilic creatures. In some regions, raccoons hibernate for three to five months during the cold, long winters. Hibernation in a raccoon is intermittent, not deep. Often for wintering raccoons are united in groups of up to 10 individuals. Unlike a bear, an awakened raccoon poses no danger. Since his favorite prey - small rodents and insectivores - sleep soundly in safe places, the raccoon, after wandering, returns to the hole and falls asleep again.

Climbing - from the squirrel.

Although raccoons are outwardly very clumsy, they climb superbly. Developed fingers allow tenaciously to hold on to even the thinnest twigs. The joints of the hind legs turn out 180 degrees, thanks to which the raccoons can climb in any direction. The reward for dexterity is bird's nests and ripe, juicy fruits of wild berries and fruits. Raccoons climb with the help of claws, which they do not know how to remove inside their paws. Some raccoons sharpen their claws on stones or, conversely, bite off overgrown claws.

Fat - from groundhog

Since raccoons hibernate, they need to accumulate fat for the winter to survive. Raccoons have a feeling of fullness, but due to the rapidly accumulating subcutaneous tissue, raccoons often become obese at home. By the way, an adult animal, in winter, in weight can reach 25 kg.

The ability to freeze - from the opossum

Raccoons, by themselves, are not conflict animals. In case of danger, the animals prefer to run away, but if there is no way out, then they pretend to be dead. This type of protection is called thanatosis (imaginary death). Thanatosis lasts for several minutes, at which time the animal freezes in an unnatural position and hardly breathes, outwardly the animal is indistinguishable from a corpse. This strategy allows you to scare off predators that avoid carrion. By the way, domestic raccoons have lost this ability.

Theft is from the monkey.

You can distinguish a striped thief by the famous black mask. The animals perfectly open 8 out of 10 locks (zippers, latches, hooks, etc.), by the way, zoologists conducted tests on which, in 30 minutes, raccoons figured out how to open 10 locks to get a treat. In the ability to open anything with raccoons, only monkeys are comparable. Often, raccoons climb into human homes or raid restaurant kitchens, and raccoons steal not only food, but what they liked.

The raccoon is a funny and resourceful animal.

Raccoons get along well both in the forest and next to a person, aggressively and courageously repulse almost any enemy, are not afraid of stinging insects and have almost the highest immunity of all animals. North America is considered the homeland of raccoons, in all other countries the animals were brought either by accident or in a special way. In Russia, the raccoon can be found along the entire coastline of the Black Sea (Anapa, Sochi, etc.). Raccoons quickly learn and adapt to new living conditions.

Today it has become popular to have unusual, exotic pets as pets, including raccoons. Thanks to this, the level of poaching has also increased, where raccoons are caught and sold to unsuspecting people. Do not buy raccoons from ads or from hands, most likely they are scammers or resellers!

You can learn more about domestic raccoons or chat about raccoons in our group

A genus of carnivorous mammals of the raccoon family.

The raccoon, the most popular member of its genus, is found in North America, in a number of European countries and Russia.

The original habitat of the beast was in America, where the most favorable for the raccoon was temperate zone. At the beginning of the 20th century, this animal was brought from America to Eurasia.

At first, raccoons were delivered to Germany, and then spread to France, the Netherlands, and then to Belarus and Russia.

In Russia on Far East raccoons appeared relatively recently. In 1929, when attempts were first made to acclimatize the animal. This happened on the territory of Askold Island, which is located in the Sea of ​​Japan.

About 20 individuals were taken there, and after 3 years the number of individuals increased significantly and amounted to 350 specimens. The widespread resettlement of raccoons began in 1934, and the peak of this work was considered to be 1936, because it was then that about 40% of all settled animals were released.

In 1967, the resettlement of raccoons was carried out in more than 150 administrative regions, which were located on the territory of 82 territories, republics and regions. At that time, 8850 individuals were settled, and directly on the territory of the Russian Federation - 5446.

Raccoons immediately adapted to the new living conditions.

Although there is currently a constant growth of cities, this does not have a strong negative impact on the distribution of the animal. It continues to expand its habitat on the mainland.

In Russia, in the European part of the country, animals have formed a rather extensive range, exceeding their number in their natural habitats.

Before the war, raccoons were released, which were previously kept on fur farms. Some individuals of these animals were practically domesticated and trusting people, which had a very negative effect on their existence in wild nature. Such animals have never lived in vivo, so they died in the first weeks after they were released.

After the war, people tried to release only those raccoons that had already passed the process of acclimatization in many regions of the USSR. Such events brought a much greater effect than the release of semi-domestic animals.

As for where raccoons live in Russia, here the habitats of the animal affect different areas. The habitat includes the territory from the western border of the state to the Urals, and from the northern regions to the southern part of Russia, including North Caucasus and the Lower Volga region. Animals live in Siberia, Irkutsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, as well as in the northeastern part of Buryatia and Yakutia.

The territories of the Far East can also be attributed to those places where raccoons live in Russia. In the second half of the twentieth century, in the upper Amur region, the habitat of raccoons increased by almost 4 million hectares (about 2.5 times). This happened due to the expansion of swampy areas in the northeast of the Zeya-Bureya Plain, as well as a noticeable improvement in the food supply of raccoons.

social structure: the raccoon is primarily a solitary animal.
Adult males winter alone in the den, and the family group often lives together during the first (for juvenile) winter.
The area of ​​a family hunting area varies depending on the characteristics of the habitat, population, quantity and variety of food. The home area is used by animals for food, water and recreation. In agricultural areas of eastern North America, such areas are usually 1-4 km 2 , while in the steppes raccoons use larger areas, up to 50 km 2 . The territory of raccoons living in the suburbs is less than 0.1 km2.
Coming out of the hole with the onset of dusk, the raccoon in search of food bypasses its territory. When two neighbor raccoons meet, the animals begin to growl, they lower their heads, bare their teeth, the fur on their backs ruffles. After such a display, the animals usually disperse without engaging in a fight.

The family group, which consists of an adult female and her cubs, is sociable, gets food during the night, and rests together during the day. The mother teaches the young (during their first summer of life) to climb trees, hunt and swim. The family group stays together until the adult female has her next offspring, usually until the next spring. Juvenile males leave their mother's territory for significantly greater distances than juvenile females, who usually remain in close proximity to the mother's territory.

reproduction: male raccoons are polygamous: one male mates with several females. Females are monogamous, mating with only one male. Young females often give birth within the first year of life. Young males, due to intense competition for females with adult raccoons, do not have the opportunity to mate until the age of two. The males never stay with the female and play no role in rearing and raising the young.

Season/breeding period: February-March, in southern parts range is observed year-round reproduction.

Puberty: females - per year, males at 2 years.

Pregnancy: 9-10 weeks (average 63 days).

Offspring: the female gives birth to 4-6 cubs in a den located in a hollow tree. Newborn cubs weigh about 60-75 g, they are toothless and blind. On days 15-20, their eyes open, and on days 18-24, their ears open. When the babies are ten days old, they begin to show a black mask on the muzzle and the color characteristic of adult animals. Raccoons begin to leave the den at the age of 4-6 weeks. Lactation lasts up to three months. Some of the cubs leave the female in autumn, and some remain in the den until the next year.

1. Adorable striped fluffies are not at all as safe as they seem. They are predators. And they often harm other inhabitants of the forest, especially if their population grows strongly. For example, in Belarus they declared war on a par with foxes and wolves.

2. There are only two kinds of raccoons. A common raccoon living in North America, it has a yellowish-brown color. And the cancer-eater raccoon (it is also in operational development under the nickname "raccoon poloskun"), living in South and Central America, in Europe, Belarus, Transcaucasia, we know him well from cartoons - we have him gray with a black mask on his muzzle and black and white tail.

3. Few people know that raccoons were brought to Belarus and Transcaucasia and acclimatized.
4. Previously, raccoons belonged to the bear family. However, later they were separated into a separate family of raccoons. Yes, they did not fit into each other's relatives.
5. A raccoon has big, flat paws and, surprisingly, they are pink in color.
6. Raccoons walk hunched over, turning their front legs outward, shuffling clumsily as they go.

7. Raccoons climb trees well, live mainly in hollows.

8. In winter, raccoons sleep for about four months. Apparently for this they were ranked earlier as bears. However, this is not true hibernation, but torpor.
9. Raccoons are pretty cheeky animals. They are not afraid of humans. They calmly settle near human habitation and even come to visit, especially if their habitat is destroyed. In Florida, raccoons break into houses, drink beer, eat bread. There have been cases of attacks in Germany - even in the suburbs of large industrial cities: Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg.

10. Raccoons constantly make rinsing movements with their paws. When a raccoon is looking for food in shallow water, he carefully feels the bottom - it seems that he is rinsing something. If he caught the prey on land, and there is no water nearby in which the prey can be washed (and usually he does), he begins to twist and rub the food in his paws. Therefore, he is "poloskuny".

11. The breeding season for raccoons stretches from December to August. Pregnancy lasts about 63 days. Childbirth usually takes place in April-June. There are usually 3-4 cubs in a litter. The mass of newborns is only 70 grams.

12. The first year, young raccoons live with their mother in her hollow.
13. Raccoons are perfectly tamed and even trained.

A family of raccoons goes to rest - sleep

Look

Evidence that raccoons are more like you and me than it seems at first glance).

We will never be lost.

The main thing is to do everything carefully.

We also love movies and popcorn.

After a hearty lunch, it's time to start exercising.

Very dexterous!

Well, maybe we don't always succeed.

But we can fix your car.

Behind recent times it has become fashionable among animal lovers to keep exotic pets at home. It seems that you will not surprise anyone with a neighbor who keeps a tiger cub, a crocodile or a boa constrictor in an apartment. The leading position in the ranking of the most common exotic "pets" is occupied by the raccoon. This cute fluffy creature gets along quite well both in a metropolis and outside the city limits. But this is provided that you can provide your unusual pet good living conditions. Therefore, anyone who decides to purchase a raccoon needs to familiarize himself with the features of this striped “miracle”.

Why did the striped raccoon get its name?

Even if the raccoon caught his prey directly in the open water, he will definitely rinse it in the water again

A variety of raccoon, which received the amusing prefix "poloskun", is widespread in the lands of North America, but this species can be found on European territory and even far away in China. It is the American raccoon (raccoon-poloskun) that lends itself well to taming and breeding in captivity.

The American raccoon got its famous prefix "poloskun" because of its habit of washing and rinsing in water everything that gets into its small tenacious paws. This is especially true for rinsing food.

Description

Since the raccoon has valuable fur, active hunting is open for it.

The North American raccoon belongs to the raccoon family. It reaches about 50–65 centimeters in length as an adult. Its tail can grow up to 25–30 cm. Weight adult varies from 6 to 10 kilograms. The raccoons are gray-brown in color, with characteristic dark circles on the muzzle that resemble a kind of mask.

In total, 22 subspecies of Procyon lotor (raccoons) are distinguished in modern zoology.

Initially, the raccoon could only be found in America, but then travelers brought this species to Europe.

Where does it live

As already mentioned, the homeland of the raccoon is North America. In the thirties of the XX century, raccoons were brought to the territory Soviet Union where, first of all, they began to observe their adaptation in the environment.

After some time, some adult animals managed to escape from the farms, and some were released into the wild by the people themselves. Over time, striped raccoons spread to Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Azerbaijan. Raccoons usually choose their habitat mixed forests, lowlands or flat areas.

The main thing is that there is a reservoir near their habitat.

Raccoons are highly adaptable to the local landscape. Therefore, you can often see them in cities, villages, on the outskirts of fields, and even in gardens and orchards.

Lifestyle

Tnots are great at climbing trees, and can also descend from them head first.

Raccoons are nocturnal predators. During the day, they prefer to sleep somewhere in trees or in hollows, but at night they begin to hunt. Striped raccoons see perfectly in the dark, and also have a sharp sense of smell and hearing characteristic of many nocturnal predators. In case of danger, the raccoon can cheat and pretend to be dead.

The raccoon swims well if necessary, but does not like water. In winter, these animals significantly reduce their activity, and some of them even fall into shallow hibernation (this applies only to the northern subspecies of the animal).

What does he eat

Striped raccoons are practically omnivorous, the main thing for them is to thoroughly rinse their food in water.

The natural diet of the raccoon is very diverse. Since raccoons most often settle in places near water bodies, their main diet consists of what they can catch with their dexterous paws along the coastline. This, for example, can be various crustaceans, insects, reptiles, amphibians, etc. Sometimes a raccoon is not averse to eating mice or turtles.

From plant foods, striped fish prefer berries, nuts, fruits and vegetables (most often stolen in the fields or in gardens).

Character

Raccoons do not seek to have a partner and are quite capable of doing without a pair.

AT natural environment raccoons are considered loners. The only exceptions are mating periods. They are neutral towards their relatives. They can easily hibernate in a shelter with ten more brothers and sisters. They are also neutral towards those individuals that cross the boundaries of their "personal" territory.

But as for other species, it must be borne in mind that raccoons are very aggressive by nature. This is because they are also prey for more large predators and this forces them to learn how to defend themselves at an early age.

Already at 3 months, a baby raccoon, being in a dangerous position, can rush at the offender, growl and try to bite him.

Raccoons can make different sounds, depending on the situation. They can growl, purr, snort, and even whimper in their own way.

Diseases

The raccoon has an extremely strong immune system. In the wild, they practically do not get sick, keeping high threshold survival. The exceptions are deadly diseases like distemper or rabies, as well as other dangerous diseases carried by cats or dogs. Therefore, before bringing a raccoon into the house, take care of the appropriate vaccinations.

reproduction

There can be from 3 to 7 puppies in a litter

The mating season for poloskunov begins around February - March. Males aged 2 years and older and females aged 1 year and older are considered "ripe" for the establishment of offspring. The female bears her offspring for about 60 days. Raccoons are mammals, so the cubs feed on mother's milk in the first months of life.

Puppies reach independence at the age of 6 months. By this time, the little poloskuny should already be able to hunt on their own, get their own food and defend themselves.

Offspring from one female happens only once a year.

How many lives

"Domestic" raccoons live an average of 20 years. In nature, this figure is usually much less. A healthy individual lives in nature up to 10-13 years.

Before you get a raccoon at home, think about whether you can handle a wild animal

For those who decide to get this difficult exotic animal at home, there are several tips that are given by more experienced breeders.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other animal, the raccoon has its advantages and disadvantages as a pet.

Advantages:

• Animals are unpretentious in food. A domesticated raccoon is able to quite successfully eat natural products ( similar topics, which he eats in nature), as well as dry food. The main thing is to consult with a specialist breeder on this issue.
• Raccoons are very smart and resourceful animals.. This animal will never let you get bored, it will copy the habits of the household and amuse you.
• They are curious and sociable. Sociability concerns only domestic, strangers and the guests do not delight the raccoon, the animal can sense danger and begin to defend itself. For households, the raccoon will become the object of endless affection and fun. He will be ready to play with you at almost any time.
• Raccoons are very clean. Many raccoon owners claim that raccoons have little to no smell and constantly look after themselves.

Disadvantages:

• Poloskun is a nocturnal animal. Raccoons are active at night, so if you plan to sleep soundly after purchasing this animal, you will be disappointed.
• Poloskun. Remember that this is not just a cute prefix to the type of animal, this is his full-fledged lifestyle. All items that fall into the hands of a raccoon will fly into the water - equipment, valuables, clothes, etc.
• Difficult to train. It must be understood that the gargle is not a cat or a dog. This is wild beast. Therefore, you will not be able to eradicate his natural habits and instincts.
• Animals can show aggression even in the game. Raccoons are quite aggressive, they can bite and scratch even the owner and even during the game.
• Doesn't understand the word "no". Poloskun himself knows what is best for him, he does not understand prohibitions or refusals and does only what he wants.
• Difficult puberty. During puberty, the gargle becomes triple aggressive. The slightest action that does not suit him with something, and this cute animal will attack you.
• Doesn't get along with other animals. This applies to small pets - rodents, birds, kittens. Poloskun is a predator, therefore such a “trifle” is food for him.

What to feed

The main advantage of keeping a raccoon at home is its omnivorous nature.

Poloskun is convenient in that it is practically omnivorous. You can feed him natural food close to what the beast eats in the wild. For example, dairy products (cottage cheese), meat (preferably poultry), fish, seafood, eggs, various cereals, vegetables and fruits are suitable for him. The raccoon will also not refuse nuts and berries (raspberries, strawberries, cherries or currants). Sometimes you can pamper your baby with homemade cookies (without additives and icing).

You can also use dry food made for cats or dogs. In this case, it is better to consult a specialist and choose the most vitamin-rich food.

Feed the beast should be 3-4 times a day.

Hygiene and care

You need to wash the beast with shampoo twice a year, not more often.

Poloskun is convenient because he can take care of the cleanliness of his fur. Your task is only to select a bath of water, which should be left for the raccoon. He himself will bathe in it whenever he wants, the main thing is to monitor the cleanliness and freshness of the water. The same goes for food and drink bowls.

You should also monitor the cleanliness of the beast's tray, as it has a habit of "overshooting" the target.

A small and cramped cage can cause aggression in the beast, as it is very sensitive to personal space.

A properly equipped dwelling of the animal is half the success on the way to taming the gargle. Be sure to get a high and spacious cage.

The cage should have several "tiers", each of which must be filled with toys, swings, etc. The place where the raccoon will sleep must be made soft and comfortable. You should also place an improvised hollow from some kind of snag in a cage, since raccoons hide in such hollows for a time of danger in the wild.

The cage itself should be placed in a bright room, but in no case on a balcony or under direct sunbeams. The animal can die from the heat (although the complete absence of the sun can lead to the development of rickets, you should find a "golden mean").

In the "house" place bowls with food and water, a basin of water so that the animal can swim there and rinse its food. It is advisable to purchase rubber toys, since the raccoon will constantly rinse them anyway.

At night, it is advisable to lock the gargle in a cage, since this is a nocturnal animal and free walks around the apartment without control can lead to undesirable consequences.

Breeding

You can give raccoons to new owners at the age of 2 months

To breed raccoons, it is not necessary to start a pair at once. The female can quite do with the invited "cavalier". The female is considered ready for bearing offspring at the age of one year. They are monogamous in nature, so keep that in mind when mating.

Pregnancy in a female lasts about 60 days. There are up to 7 puppies in one litter. A young mother guards her children very jealously, so you should take care of a secluded place where she will feed them in advance.

How long does a raccoon live at home

At home, the gargle lives a little longer than in the wild. On average, the animal lives up to 15-16 years. There are cases of longer life.

Raccoons are often called thieves because they like to climb into houses and chicken coops and take whatever they like.

Poloskun is not only one of the cutest creatures on the planet, but also very interesting. Several interesting facts about these animals:

• The paws of the gargle are very similar to human hands. One Indian legend says that once a raccoon had a human appearance. He was a cunning thief and rogue and had many people wrapped around his finger. For such impunity, the Ancient Spirit got angry with him and turned him into a raccoon. But for good behavior in the form of this cute animal, the villain received a kind of gift: his paws became more like human ones.
• Poloskuns are terrible alcoholics. These cute fluffy animals have long been addicted to the intoxicating effect of strong drinks, so in wild environment you can often hear stories from people who discovered a raccoon thief in their house, who made his way there in search of alcohol. Raccoons simply love beer in cans, their tenacious little hands can easily open a can and drain it in one sitting. They can get drunk to such an extent that they “pass out” right at the crime scene.
• Raccoons are extremely vindictive and cunning. These animals know exactly how to take revenge on the offender or outwit him. There are cases when raccoons lured dogs or wolves onto thin ice, where the latter fell through without even having time to come to their senses.

Representatives of the raccoon genus are the indigenous inhabitants of America. On the territory of Eurasia, only one species is found - the raccoon, resettled outside the natural range.

All raccoons are very active, curious and cunning animals that easily adapt to the most different conditions life in the environment. These animals are not only wild dwellers forests, but also friendly pets. People started mass breeding raccoons and keeping them at home not so long ago, but fluffy handsome men have already managed to win the hearts of many animal lovers.

Characteristics of the genus and species of raccoons

Raccoons - predatory mammals, representatives of the raccoon family (Procyonidae). In the genus of raccoons (Procyon), zoologists distinguish 4 species:

• • • Raccoon (Procyon lotor);
    • Raccoon-crayfish (Procyon cancrivorus);
    • Guadalupe raccoon (Procyon minor);
    • Cozumel raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus).

Raccoons are the middle link between mustelids and bears.

Appearance and anatomical features of the body structure

It is almost impossible to confuse raccoons with other animals. Their stocky body is covered with grayish-brown wool, the muzzle is decorated with a black and white mask, beautiful fluffy tail wrap around wide rings of black-brown or gray-yellow color. A black-brown stripe extends from the forehead to the tip of the nose. Dark spots are clearly visible around the eyes. The fur of raccoons is 90% dense undercoat, thanks to which the animals do not freeze when catching prey in cold water.

Interesting fact

Raccoons are considered valuable fur animals, but some peoples eat the meat of these animals.

The body length of raccoons is approximately 40-65 centimeters (depending on the species), the tail grows up to 25 centimeters. Animals weigh about 6 kilograms, closer to autumn they can gain weight up to 25 kilograms. The forelimbs of raccoons with sensitive and movable fingers are similar to human hands. The paws of animals are short, with bare soles. In the vertical position of the body, predators rely on the entire sole of the limbs, while walking - only on the fingers, and therefore the traces of raccoons resemble the prints of human hands.

Raccoons walk on four legs, but their forelimbs are designed in such a way that the animals can wash themselves with them and hold objects.

The muzzle of raccoons is short, with large erect ears that protrude from the fur. On the head, chest and belly, as well as on inside limbs and near the claws of these animals are vibrissae, which help raccoons to move confidently in complete darkness.

The skull of raccoons is distinguished by a relatively large braincase and a short facial part. The nasal bones in animals are wide and short, the auditory drums are rounded. The occipital crest is well expressed, the sagittal crest is weak. Raccoons have 36 to 42 teeth.

Habitat of raccoons

These agile animals are common in the territory from southern Canada to Panama. They are the original inhabitants of the North and Central America, inhabit the United States, with the exception of the states of Utah and Nevada.

At the beginning of the 20th century, due to valuable fur the raccoon was brought to the European continent. This type well acclimatized in Belarus, Germany and Azerbaijan, in the Far East of Russia. Nowadays, raccoons are found even on the islands of the East Indies.

These animals settle mainly in deciduous forests and forests characterized by a mixture of coniferous and deciduous tree species, where there are many hollow trees. Predators have chosen places near rivers and lakes. Homogeneous coniferous forests, as well as forest plantations without water bodies, are avoided by raccoons. Often, animals inhabit the outskirts of fields and gardens, they are found in city squares. In general, raccoons quickly adapt to man-made landscapes and can cause a lot of trouble for owners of private land.

Within their natural habitat, dexterous animals inhabit flat and lowland areas, avoiding regions with cold winters.

Interesting fact

Although raccoons prefer to settle near natural reservoirs with fresh water, if necessary, they can settle well in the attic, and in old pipes, and in the burrows of forest marmots. Predators do not know how to dig holes on their own, and therefore occupy the shelters of other animals. In addition to the main dwelling, raccoons have several more safe havens just in case, but animals prefer to sleep in the main den.

Diet

Raccoons are predatory mammals, but in reality they are omnivores. In the diet of these dexterous animals, a seasonal change of food is expressed.

In spring and summer, raccoons consume mainly animal food. After descending from the trees, they move slowly along the ground and often stop, trying to find something to eat. Raccoons instantly react to various small animals. In autumn, the animals prefer food of plant origin.

The basic diet of raccoons includes frogs, insects and their larvae, crayfish, crabs, snails, earthworms, rodents. Sometimes they eat reptiles, they like to eat bird eggs. From plant foods, raccoons eat berries, nuts and acorns, fruits. Animals collect wild cherries and elderberries, gooseberries, wild grapes. Garden crops are also eaten from time to time - grain, potatoes, corn. During a drought, they do not disdain chicks, they can visit chicken coops. Sometimes raccoons raid nests dangerous insects(hornets, bumblebees, ants, termites). Thick skin and thick fur reliably protect animals from stinging bites. Raccoons with appetite eat the larvae that are found in the nests. These predators are one of the few who get their food in three elements - on earth, in water and air.

Interesting fact

Raccoons living in suburban areas next to humans often inspect the contents of garbage cans.

Since it is difficult to smell prey in the dark, in aquatic environment animals hunt a little differently than on land. Raccoons dip their paws into the water to examine the soil and snags. When sensitive fingers have found prey, predators instantly capture the prey and rinse it repeatedly in water. The raccoons do it especially carefully. So they determine the readiness of food for consumption.

Interesting fact

A huge number of conjectures causes the desire of raccoons to rinse food before a meal. Previously, zoologists assumed that the organism of predators produces too little saliva, as a result of which there is a need to wet the prey. However, this assumption has been refuted.

The most plausible explanation is considered to be the imitation of catching prey from the water, which is inherent in raccoons at the genetic level.

Raccoon lifestyle

Raccoons are very friendly animals, but they prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. An exception can only be the winter period of hibernation, when several animals often fall asleep in one shelter at once. Raccoons do not show aggression towards their neighbors. Even if one animal ended up on the territory of another, the animals do not quarrel with each other (provided that one raccoon does not claim to occupy the den of its relative). Feeding areas of predators often intersect.

Raccoons communicate with each other using different sounds - rumbling, chirping, screeching, whistling. Often in places where there is a lot of food, animals form dense settlements. In America, up to 100 raccoons can live on the territory of 1000 hectares, and up to 300 individuals in protected parks on such a site.

These animals lead a predominantly twilight-night lifestyle, during the daytime they sleep in their shelters, rest in hollows and on tree branches. Those raccoons that settle in coastal areas adjust their sleep to the time of low tide. In search of food, the animals bypass the territory up to 3 kilometers in diameter. Predators try not to leave their sites.

Interesting fact

When the raccoon threatens deadly danger, and it is impossible to run away or hide, he pretends to be dead. This trick often saves the predator's life. But if the technique does not work, the animal starts a fight.

Raccoons are quick-witted and easily adaptable to environmental conditions. They climb well, very deftly get out to the tops of trees and can descend from a height even head first. This is possible thanks to the very mobile feet that rotate 180 degrees. On the ground, raccoons usually walk with measured steps, but if necessary, they can also run, reaching speeds of up to 24 kilometers per hour.

Raccoons receive most of the information about the world around them through a developed sense of touch. In addition, they have sharp hearing and excellent eyesight. These predators move confidently in the dark and swim well.

Raccoons that live in the south are active throughout the year, but animals that live in the north, in sub-zero temperatures, can not leave the den to the surface for weeks. All this time, the animals sleep, but since the metabolic processes in the body and the frequency of heart beats do not slow down much, and the body temperature does not decrease, this state cannot be called real hibernation.

The duration of shallow sleep directly depends on the cold weather. Canadian raccoons sleep the longest - about 4-5 months. In the southern part of the North American continent, striped raccoons do not sleep at all. Animals simply wait out the period of snowfall without leaving the shelter. It is noteworthy that raccoons can wait out bad weather in one den with entire companies.

Raccoon breeding

The rut period starts with the beginning of spring. Throughout the mating season, males are looking for potential girlfriends, actively expanding their territory. A raccoon finds a female ready for mating by smell. After the fertilization process, the male leaves the female and goes in search of new girlfriend. Male raccoons live separately and solitary, they do not take part in the upbringing of offspring.

The female remains alone and bears babies. Just before the baby raccoons are born, she becomes unpredictably aggressive. Pregnancy lasts 63 days. A female raccoon brings 4-5 cubs a year. Babies are born deaf and blind and weigh up to 75 grams. The cubs begin to see clearly on the 18-20th day of life. At first, small raccoons feed only on mother's milk, and when milk teeth grow up, the animals gradually switch to solid food. Fur in babies begins to grow rapidly immediately after birth, and black and white marks appear almost immediately on the muzzle of animals.

Interesting fact

Females feed offspring up to 24 times a day.

The cubs communicate with their mother with the help of sounds - a whistle and a piercing cry. The female also communicates a lot with small raccoons, through purring and grumbling. It is noteworthy that the older the animals become, the less and much quieter they communicate.

Interesting fact

In case of danger, the female prepares up to 12 different refuge burrows for the rapid relocation of the brood.

Young raccoons become completely independent at the age of 4-5 months, but sometimes the brood remains near the mother until the winter. It is the winter period that is considered the most ordeal for the young. If raccoons survive their first winter, then they will be able to live in natural conditions for a long time.

Females reach puberty at the age of one year, males - closer to two years.

In the wild, raccoons live from 2 to 5 years, in captivity - up to 20 years.

Enemies of raccoons in their natural habitat

Raccoons are threatened by coyotes and wolves, bears, bobcats, alligators, and owls. Juveniles are often preyed upon by snakes and large carnivorous birds.

The second leading source of mortality is diseases such as rabies and canine distemper. In the southern and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, several thousand raccoons die each year from these diseases.

In cities, large dogs are considered irreconcilable enemies of raccoons. However, one adult animal is quite capable of repelling a predator, its main weapon is strong teeth and claws.

Interesting fact

In some countries, sport hunting for raccoons is popular. In one year, 2-3 million individuals are shot.

Despite all the dangers, raccoons manage to maintain the population.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

This species is common in North America, found in Europe and even in China. The raccoon, or American raccoon, is easily tamed and great for captive breeding. In the wild, it lives close to water bodies.

Interesting fact

These curious little creatures are nicknamed gargles because of their very strange habit of washing everything. Raccoons rinse their food especially carefully. Even if the prey was caught in an open reservoir, before the meal, the animal will definitely rinse the food in the water again.

The body length of adults reaches 45-60 centimeters, the tail - 20-25 centimeters. Stripes weigh 5-9 kilograms. The fur of these raccoons is distinguished by a brown-gray color, characteristic dark spots in the form of a mask can be seen on the muzzle around the eyes.

Predators feed animal food and vegetable feed. They lead a solitary lifestyle, fall into shallow hibernation for the winter. Wolves, coyotes, owls can attack raccoons, and snakes also pose a danger to young animals.

The mating season begins in February-March, the pregnancy in females lasts 63 days. In one litter, from 3 to 7 babies are born. At the age of 5 months, the young begin an independent life.

The raccoon-poloskun belongs to valuable fur-bearing animals.

Zoologists distinguish 22 subspecies of Procyon lotor, namely :

Raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus)

A native of the swamps and jungles of South and Central America. This species is found in the following countries:

• • • Argentina;
    • Brazil;
    • Bolivia;
    • Uruguay;
    • Costa Rica;
    • Paraguay;
    • Suriname;
    • Panama;
    • Trinidad and Tobago;
    • Venezuela;
    • Peru;
    • Guyana.

Raccoon-crayfish is a fairly large representative of the raccoon family. The body length of the animal reaches 60 centimeters and weighs about 10 kilograms. The tail grows up to 38 centimeters. Males are slightly larger than females.

The coat of the crayfish is long and coarse, but much shorter than that of other raccoon species. The muzzle of predators is narrow, there is a black mask. In nature, there are individuals with both dark brown and gray-black fur. The color of the lower part of the body is gray.

The basis of the diet of these predators is crabs, lobsters and other crustaceans. But because raccoons are omnivores, they often eat fruits, small amphibians, and insects. In communication with relatives, up to 13 different vocalizations are used. They do not hibernate. They can become prey to large carnivores. Man poses a significant threat to the species.

The period of active breeding in raccoons falls on July-September. Pregnancy in females lasts 60-73 days. In one litter, from 2 to 7 cubs are born, usually 3-4. Young individuals become completely independent at the age of 8 months. In the natural habitat, raccoons live no more than 5 years, in captivity - up to 15 years.

Procyon minor)

It lives on the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean Sea, as well as in the Lesser Antilles. Prefers to settle in swampy areas, but can also live in a dry forest.

By appearance The Guadeloupe raccoon strongly resembles a gargle. His body is covered with thick long fur, a black mask is visible on his head. The limbs of the animal are long with thin fingers. The main color of the coat is gray, yellowish and black hairs are found throughout the body. The body length of Guadalupe raccoons is approximately 50-60 centimeters. Adults weigh from 2.5 to 15 kilograms.

These animals feed on fish and shellfish, meat, vegetables and fruits. They are nocturnal, during the day they sleep on branches or in tree trunks. Unlike the raccoon, the Guadeloupe species does not hibernate.

The mating season starts in January and ends in March. Pregnancy lasts about 2 months. The female gives birth to 2 to 5 babies. The lactation period lasts up to 4 months.

The Guadalupe raccoon is listed in the International Red Book as a species on the verge of extinction. People hunt Procyon minor for its beautiful fur and meat.

Cozumel raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus)

It lives on the Mexican island of Cozumel, found in mangrove forests, near beaches and cultivated lands.

The Cozumel raccoon differs from the continental raccoon in its smaller body size. Adult individuals grow up to 55 centimeters in length, their tail is no more than 25 centimeters long. Animals weigh from 3 to 4 kilograms.

The coat of the Cozumel raccoon (another name for the pygmy raccoon) has a brownish-gray color, the fur on the tail is distinguished by a golden yellow tint. There is a characteristic large black spot on the throat.

These raccoons are omnivores. Approximately half of their diet is crabs, the rest is insects and minilkara fruits. In addition to the breeding season, Cozumel raccoons lead a solitary lifestyle.

Animals breed throughout the year, pregnancy lasts 63 days. In one brood, 4-6 cubs are born.

Procyon pygmaeus is critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Many raccoons die during hurricanes. The population of the species is estimated at 300 individuals.

Keeping raccoons at home

Before you get such an exotic animal as a pet, you definitely need to weigh the pros and cons, because it is very difficult. Caring for the animal will require a lot of time and effort. The animal needs a spacious dwelling (cage, aviary) and a place for safe walks. Raccoons cannot live on free range in an apartment / house.

You should not start a raccoon if the house has Small child so that the maintenance of the animal does not turn into a nightmare for all households. Raccoons bite and can seriously harm children.

It is also important to consider the presence of other pets. For example, a raccoon can get along with a cat or a dog, but definitely not with birds and rodents. In addition, raccoons are poorly tamed to the tray, and therefore you should be prepared for the fact that you will have to clean up after a moving animal often and in the most unexpected places. During the rut period, raccoons also mark their territory.

For creating comfortable conditions living a raccoon in a house or apartment, you need to take care of housing for a pet. For this purpose, you can pick up a spacious cage or aviary. The cage can even be left on the balcony, but only if the air temperature does not drop below 5 degrees Celsius.

Feeding a domestic raccoon requires a variety of foods. Any natural products, such as fish and meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, cottage cheese will appeal to a playful animal. You can also offer the raccoon quality dog ​​or cat food.

Fish and meat must necessarily undergo heat treatment, but it is better to give your pet raw fruits and vegetables.

If, despite all the difficulties, you decide to have a raccoon in the house, be patient. A mobile and dexterous animal will have to pay a lot of attention and watch it like a small child.