Raiding the Bird Feeder

by Cheryl Baxter

Title

Raiding the Bird Feeder

Artist

Cheryl Baxter

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Although the wild raccoon lives a largely solitary life, the attraction to urban areas can cause them to much more densely populate. A density of 10 - 25 raccoons per square kilometer has been observed. They will build their dens in chimneys, attics, roofs, crawl spaces, under decks and sheds.
Breeding

Once per year: Male raccoons will attempt to mate with multiple partners each season whereas the female will mate with only one male, avoiding all others afterwards. Mating occurs during the winter months but can continue until June. This prolonged mating season makes it essential for wildlife technicians to detect if there are any babies present during the initial assessment. Offspring are born about 9 weeks after mating. It is not uncommon for mothers to make a last minute den to give birth in which is why urban structures are so attractive.

Litter size: The gestation period is around 63 days. Female raccoons produce litters between 1 and 7 offspring (typically 3 or 4).

Rearing: Newborn raccoons are blind and deaf for their first three weeks but grow quickly. They are cared for exclusively by the female who teaches them how to forage for food and shelter. One of the main threats to young raccoons is predators such as the coyote. Young raccoons will typically stay with their mother through the first winter after which they gradually leave..

Sexual maturity: Female raccoons can begin to breed at one year of age whereas males tend to begin later at the age of two.

Uploaded

June 23rd, 2013

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