• Raccoon: Informational Series

WILDLIFE IN CONNECTICUT
INFORMATIONAL SERIES
RACCOON
Procyon lotor
Habitat: Raccoons prefer wooded areas near streams, Food: Raccoons are opportunistic and omnivorous.
ponds and marshes but are highly adaptable and can Their varied diet includes fleshy fruits, mast (especially
live in close proximity to human developments and thrive acorns, hickory nuts and beechnuts), grains, inverte-
in farmlands. brates (particularly crayfish and insects), rodents, young
Weight: Most adults weigh 10 to 30 pounds, with males rabbits, birds, bird's eggs, turtles, fish, carrion, garbage
typically larger than females. and crops such as corn.
Length: 2 to 3 feet, including the tail.
Identification: The raccoon is a medium-sized mammal and will travel with the female for short distances to
distinguished by a black mask across the eyes and search for food. At three to four months, the cubs begin
cheeks and black rings around the bushy tail. The long, to forage on their own.
thick fur gives raccoons a typical gray-brown color, with History in Connecticut: Since the late 1800s,
variations ranging from sienna to silver. Other charac- Connecticut’s expanding human population has probably
teristics include short, pointed ears and a long, pointed benefited this opportunistic species; concentrations of
snout. people provide easy access to such food sources as
Range: Raccoons range from Canada and throughout garbage, gardens and bird feeders. Raccoons are now
the United States (excluding the high elevations of the abundant in both urban and rural areas throughout
Rocky Mountains and much of the Southwest) into Connecticut.
Mexico and Central America. They are common Interesting Facts: Raccoons are most closely related
throughout Connecticut. to the dog (Canidae) and bear (Ursidae) families. They
Reproduction: Raccoons breed in late winter or early have keen senses of hearing, sight and touch, but taste
spring; the males do not remain with the female after and smell are less well developed. Raccoons have
breeding. The young are born in April or May after a 63- dexterous feet, are excellent climbers and can descend
day gestation period. Females produce one litter per a tree head first. They are extremely strong for their
year, with an average of four cubs per litter. The cubs size.
are born blind, helpless and are covered with yellowish-
gray fur. After 30 to 40 days, the cubs leave the den
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION q WILDLIFE DIVISION
 Raccoons are primarily nocturnal but occasionally nuisance when they damage gardens, raid garbage cans
venture out in the daytime. In late fall and winter, or inhabit human structures. They can be especially
raccoons may “den up” during the coldest periods; destructive on farms, where they feed heavily on crops.
however, this is not true hibernation, and they will Because of their susceptibility to rabies, problem
wander out during warm spells. The den is most often in raccoons cannot be relocated and wildlife rehabilitators
a hollow tree, but raccoons will also use hollow logs, can only accept them for rehabilitation with certain
rock crevices, brush piles, buildings and abandoned restrictions. However, some raccoon problems can be
woodchuck burrows, beaver lodges or fox dens. controlled using preventive measures.
Generally, raccoons are not social but some pairs and To deter raccoons from raiding garbage cans, several
families do travel together. modifications can be made. Snaps can be attached to
The raccoon has been an economically important the lid and the handle can be secured to a stake driven
furbearer in Connecticut due to its abundance and pelt into the ground. Placing cans in wooden bins or in the
value. Raccoons are harvested each year during the garage may also eliminate raccoon raiding problems.
regulated hunting and trapping seasons, providing Some people have had success with placing ammonia
recreation for many Connecticut sportsmen and helping directly in the can to repel raccoons.
to control local raccoon populations. Pet or livestock food should not be left outside where it is
Raccoons, especially large populations, prey on birds available to raccoons. Bird feeders should be placed
and their nests. In Connecticut, they often raid bluebird away from trees or other structures that can be climbed
boxes that are not protected with predator guards. They by raccoons.
also are problematic for herons and egrets on offshore Raccoons can easily access roofs by climbing trees,
islands where repeated predation can cause abandon- downspouts, vines, or a trellis located near the house.
ment of the entire colony. Therefore, to prevent raccoons from entering houses,
Raccoon Rabies: Since “raccoon rabies” reached roofs and chimneys should be well-maintained. Replace
Connecticut in March, 1991, thousands of raccoons have loose shingles, repair any holes near the eaves of the
become infected. Other species, including dogs, cats, roof and securely place a chimney cap over the chimney.
skunks, foxes, woodchucks and livestock, have also Limiting the access to the roof by trimming trees and
been infected. The following symptoms may indicate the shrubs may also be helpful.
presence of rabies, distemper or other diseases in The simplest and most effective, permanent solution to
raccoons or other mammals: unprovoked aggression, the problem of raccoons living in a chimney is to cap it.
impaired movement, paralysis or lack of coordination, However, there may be young present, depending on the
unusually friendly behavior and disorientation. Just time of year. If the young are old enough to climb out,
because a nocturnal animal like the raccoon is active cap the chimney after the raccoons have left for the
during daylight hours doesn’t necessarily mean that it is night. Sometimes, a female raccoon can be encouraged
sick. Raccoons often adjust their feeding schedules, to move her young to another location by the use of
especially in the spring when rearing their young. repellents, such as ammonia or moth balls, combined
Contact with any wild or stray animal should be avoided, with a light and noise from a portable radio placed near
especially if it is behaving abnormally. Report sick or the damper.
strange-acting animals to your local police, animal Electric fences may help to keep raccoons out of
control officer or the DEP. For more information on gardens. The wires must be spaced close together and
rabies, contact your local health department. close to the ground in order to be effective.
Raccoons may also serve as host to a number of other On farms, where more effective methods are needed to
disease pathogens which are transmissible to humans control a large number of animals, hunters and trappers
and domestic animals, including trichinosis, tuberculosis, can harvest problem animals on the property during the
round worm, infectious enteritis and coccidiosis. regulated hunting and trapping seasons or by special
Management of Problem Raccoons: Because of their permit at other times of the year.
ability to coexist with humans, raccoons can become a
The Technical Assistance Informational Series is 75 percent funded by Federal Aid to Wildlife
Restoration—the Pittman-Robertson (P-R) Program. The P-R Program provides funding through an
excise tax on the sale of sporting firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. The remaining 25
percent of the funding is matched by the Connecticut Wildlife Division.
Illustration by Paul Fusco 12/99