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Raccoon Biology and Facts
Raccoon (procyon lotor)
Procyon = latin for ancestor of dog Lotor = latin for washer
Closest relatives: white-nosed coati, ringtail, red panda
Males raccoons are 10/15% larger and heavier than females - moderate sexual dimorphism
The word raccoon comes from "arakun", Algonquin for "scratches with hands"
Range from Canada to argentina.
Length - 2-3 feet.
In FL, are active all year long, in north quasi-hibernate.
Coons in FL are smaller than those in the north or Midwest. In general, within a given species, animals living closer to the equator are smaller. In central FL, most adults weigh between 8 and 15 pounds. In the Midwest, they grow as large as 30-40 pound.
Adaptable, versatile; allowing flourishing across multitude of environments, and quicky changing environments. Swim,climb, dig(although rare).
Humped posture - due to hind legs being longer than front legs
Very bad idea to keep one as a pet.
During the breeding season, which is extended in FL Jan-June, with a peak in feb, march… the mother finds a den to keep her litter - usually 3-5. The mother raccoon will protect the den, only leaving to get food. The kits are born with fur and with eyes that will stay closed until about 3 weeks old. The kits don't leave the den until they are 8-12 weeks old.
Den in hollow tree, manmade structure, wherever the mother thinks the den will be left alone including from other raccoon.
Feeding - omnivore, opportunistic - berries, fruits, plants, fish, crabs, beetles, mice, and carrion.
Less than 1% of wild raccoons lives for seven years in the wild (but can live up to 16 years), most die around 2 years. Automobiles is the greatest cause of death amongst adults.
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In the United States, the most common specie of rat is the norway rat; but in Florida the most common is the black rat (also known as the
fruit or roof rat). The black rat is a lean body rat with a long tail and long fingers - these characteristics allow it be a great climber.
Black rats are an extremely common animal in Florida... but because they travel at night up high along trees and electrical wires, they are rarely seen.
Rat poison is usually advertised to make the rat thirsty so that it will seek water and die outside. Our experience indicates that rats will die from poison just as often inside the attic
and walls (where they may not be able to found) as
they die outside. Use poison cautiously!
By Chinese Zodiac: People born in the Year of the Rat (..1984, 1996...) are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions,
and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful.
Rat infestations are caused by faults of a building. People's habits only play a small part in causing the problem. Keeping an uncluttered landscape, cutting tree branches away from roof, picking up fallen citrus fruit, and keeping pet food well sealed
are some ways a homeowner can keep their property less attractive to rats.
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