Investor Presentaiton
Food Habits: Raccoons are omnivorous, which means they eat both plant material
and meat. Their natural diet includes nuts, fruits, grains, insects, frogs, eggs, small
mammals, fish and birds. They are a very opportunistic species and will also eat food
such as birdseed, garbage, and pet food.
Reproduction: Offspring of the raccoon are born in mid to
late spring, after a gestation period of 60 to 73 days. Between
two and seven young are born in each litter, and one litter per year is born to each mating
female. Females prefer tree cavities to give birth and raise their young. In the absence
of tree cavities they will often use chimneys or buildings. Juvenile raccoons are unable
to open their eyes during their first three weeks, and their ear canals are also closed for
this period. Males do not take part in raising the young at all.
Damage Identification
As an opportunistic species, raccoons will commonly get into unsecured garbage containers left outdoors. They
can also get into unsecured poultry coops, and may cause considerable damage to eggs and birds. Some
characteristics of raccoon predation are the removal of the head and crop of the birds, chewed and eaten breast,
and bits of flesh found near water sources. Raccoons are able to grasp with their front feet and will sometimes
reach their paws through fencing to get at chicks. Eggs can be completely removed from the nest, or eaten on site.
Raccoons can cause substantial crop damage, particularly to newly ripened sweet
corn. Corn stalks will usually show considerable damage, and can be completely
knocked over. Individual ears may even be peeled back. Raccoons are particularly
fond of apples, grapes, pears and other fruits. They can also damage bird feeders
while trying to get to the seed.
Raccoons as Disease Carriers
Rabies is a viral disease of mammals. It is transmitted from the saliva of the infected animal by bites or scratches.
First confirmed in Rhode Island in 1994, the rabies virus is now endemic and can be expected to occur in wild
mammal populations throughout the state. Infected animals can exhibit a wide range of symptoms, from
aggressiveness and rage, to aimless wandering, lethargy, weakness of the hind legs, and loss of awareness. Never
attempt to capture or handle a raccoon or other wild mammal whether it looks sick, injured or healthy. Any contact
between a raccoon or other wild mammal and a person should be reported to a physician immediately. Any contact
between a domestic animal and wild mammal should be reported to your veterinarian and local animal control
officer.
Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as “raccoon roundworm", is a nematode found in the small intestines of
raccoons. Not only is it a human health risk, but it can be harmful to other animals as well. The nematode's eggs
are shed in the raccoon's feces. If ingested by another raccoon, the larvae migrate to the intestine and develop
into adult worms. If ingested by humans, the larvae can spread throughout the body, including the central nervous
RIDEM/DFW Raccoons p. 2View entire presentation