Rascal, our pesky raccoon has been around for several years and has outlived her time. Which makes me think that some of the offspring may be a second or third generation Rascal.  I know she is a female because every spring she brings her 4 or 5 babies around to find cat food, water and anything she can steal.  She is not quite as bad as the infamous comic character Sly Cooper, a gentleman thief, but Rascal may be a close second. And, has the same mischievousness, curiosity, and thieving behaviors as Sly…all traits of a raccoon.  However, we can coexist with these resourceful animals even though my husband would strongly disagree with that!

Raccoons are everywhere found in both rural and urban environments throughout the United States.  They are so common that most of us don’t give them a second thought.  But have you ever wondered where they came from?  They first originated in Europe about 25 million years ago.   Over the millennia, the raccoons made their way across the Bering Land Bridge into North and Central America where they began to evolve into the raccoons we know today.  They were introduced to Europe, Asia, and Africa in the mid-20th century where they are mostly considered an invasive alien species.  The name ‘raccoon’ came from the Native American’s Algonquian Indian word ‘arakun’, which means “he scratches with his hands.”  During the 1700s, American colonists dropped the ‘a’ in arakun, and the name became raccoon.

Adult raccoons vary in size, with males larger than females, and can weigh anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds.  Their mating season begins in late winter, and the females usually have 2 to 5 cubs in the spring.  The mother takes care of them until they are old enough to fend for themselves, 6 to 7 months old.  And, when it comes to mating, the female will mate with just one male for the season.  While the male mates to his heart's content with many different females throughout the season!

Their lifespan in the wild is typically 2 to 3 years, but captive raccoons have been known to live up to 20 years.  Their size is dependent on the habitat and food availability, but they typically have home ranges of 1 to 3 square miles.  And, they are fast, running up to 15 miles per hour. They are generally nocturnal but can also be out during the day foraging for food, particularly when raising their young.  They are active year round, but may spend time in their winter dens during very cold snaps.

Raccoons are considered to be highly intelligent and can remember solutions to tasks for up to 3 years and have cognitive abilities of a young child!  They are pretty crafty when it comes to solving puzzles, opening garbage can latches, birdfeeders, and just adapting to a changing environment.  So, next time they outsmart you, remember – it’s not personal!  Raccoons have dexterous front paws with hypersensitive touch receptors, making them incredibly skilled at turning doorknobs and untying knots.  It’s just science!

Have you ever seen a raccoon dunk their food in water?  I have when they get to my cat food before I pick it up for the night.  They have a seemingly odd habit of washing their food and making a mess before they eat it.  But this behavior is not really about cleanliness at all.  In fact, raccoons go through the same motions with their food even when there is no water to dip it in.  Instead, this dipping behavior, called dousing, is because of the sensitive nerves in their front paws, which enhances their sense of touch.  But even without water this behavior helps raccoons better eat their food.     

Raccoons are often referred to as trash bandits thanks to their scavenging ways and their black mask that covers their eyes.  This black mask isn’t just for show but helps enhance their night vision and also reduces glare.  But I think they should just call them ‘bandits’.  For one of the most well-known traits of raccoons is their innate thieving nature.  They are notorious for their tendency to snatch and hoard various objects, often treating them as prized possessions.  Shiny trinkets to garden items, cat bowls, suet cages and even some of my prisms, are all part of their secret stash.  And, since raccoons are highly intelligent, it’s hard to outsmart them!

So, how can we coexist with incredibly intelligent raccoons and their peculiar behaviors?  You can take steps to secure your home and garden from these clever pests…pick up the cat food, put the bird feeders and trash cans in the garage at night.  But raccoons adapt easily to their environment and, just like Rascal, they come out earlier and earlier each day to find food.   I have decided she’s much smarter and faster than me.  So, I only put out small amounts of cat food and bird seed each day… she wins a little and I lose a little!●