Raccoons are an intelligent species of mammal that generally live near wooded areas and forests in North America.\u00a0 They are also commonly seen in residential and commercial areas of our cities due to housing developments and new construction.\u00a0 Raccoons, in these areas, have acquired a bad reputation for trouble-making because they thieve our garbage and hide-out in our attics and roofs.\u00a0 Read on to learn more about raccoons, and perhaps, take in a better understanding of these misrepresented animals of nature.<\/p>\n
A raccoon is a medium-sized animal.\u00a0 They can weigh anywhere from ten to twenty pounds.\u00a0 Raccoons are covered in a dense fur with multiple layers.\u00a0 This fur keeps them warm in the colder seasons and cool in the warmer ones. \u00a0The fur coat is grayish brown and black; but they are most identifiable by their black and gray striped tail. Another known trait all raccoons have is the black mask-like stripe across their eyes.\u00a0 \u00a0This is one reason they got the nickname little-bandits.\u00a0 They have very dexterous paws that look almost human-like, with long claws for grasping and climbing.\u00a0 They have a slight snout and whiskers as well.<\/p>\n
As far as reproduction goes, female raccoons give birth to litters called kits.\u00a0 A mother raccoon can birth as many as 5 kits per litter.\u00a0 Their gestation period is much shorter than humans, only lasting around 65 days.\u00a0 Once the kits are about 16 weeks, they are completely weaned from their mother and can experience life on their own.\u00a0 They eat almost everything because raccoons are omnivores.\u00a0 This means they eat fruits, vegetables, frogs, fish, insects, and more.\u00a0 The diet must be good to them because raccoons can live up to twenty years!\u00a0 Although they can live a longtime, raccoons are commonly hit by cars and even preyed upon in the wild.<\/p>\n
The stereotype is that raccoons have rabies and will attack humans and pass it on.\u00a0 The truth is, ANY mammal can have rabies and pass it on to humans.\u00a0 Raccoons are no more susceptible to rabies and diseases as your pet dog and all other animals.\u00a0 Also, raccoons are more scared of us than we are of them, making it less likely for them to attack.\u00a0 The best advice is to stay away from all wild animals no matter what.<\/p>\n
For more information on raccoons in Louisville, KY<\/strong>, contact a professional.\u00a0 We have been removing raccoons from residential and commercial properties for over ten years.\u00a0 We offer a wide variety of related services as well.\u00a0 We are available 24 hours to discuss raccoons, raccoon control, and more.\u00a0 Call us at 502-553-7622 <\/strong>or visit our Louisville KY Raccoon Control<\/a> website anytime!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Raccoons are an intelligent species of mammal that generally live near wooded areas and forests in North America.\u00a0 They are also commonly seen in residential and commercial areas of our cities due to housing developments and new construction.\u00a0 Raccoons, in … Continue reading