Raccoon~Animalia

By: Holly

CLASSIFICATION     GENERAL INFO    SPECIAL FEATURES   HABITAT      DIET     REPRODUCTION          BODY SYSTEMS             HUMAN IMPACT         WEBLINKS        SOURCES  

CLASSIFICATION:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Procyonidae
Genus species:Procyon, 2 subgenera, 7 species

SPECIAL FEATURES
Has a black mask on face and dexterous hands and feet. They also have really thick fur to keep warm in the winter, and their dexterous front paws can turn door knobs and open jars. 

REPRODUCTION
The litter size is around 5. The babies are called kits or cubs. With both sights appearing in the first month, raccoon cubs are born blind and deaf. They are about 10 cm. at birth and weight about 75g.

HABITAT:
Lives in woodland areas close to water. Now, the raccoon has moved closer to humans were they can find food easier. Also, they have spread into living in the mountains and/or wetter habitats.

The raccoon was founded in North America. It is a medium sized bear like animal which can also be found in Europe and Japan.

DIET:
The raccoon is an omnivore. Eats mainly fish, nuts, berries, and corn. It has been observed that raccoons will wash their food in the river or in any body of water that is around them before they eat it. Raccoons are usually nocturnal so they only come out at night. 

BODY SYSTEMS::
A fully grown raccoon can weigh from 10-40 lbs. and live up to 20 years in captivity. But in the wild might live a slightly lower life expectancy.

HUMAN IMPACT:
Humans will sometimes hunt raccoons to get their warm fur coats for coats, hats, and trimming. But humans have also eliminated many of the raccoons predators.