The name “raccoon” comes to us from the Indian word “Arakun”, which translates as “scratching with his own hands.” Raccoons are predatory mammals. Raccoon dogs are close relatives of raccoons (they are often confused with raccoons). How big is the raccoon? The length of its body is usually 45-60 cm. The average weight of a raccoon, depending on the species, can vary from 2-5 to 8-15 kg. Moreover, males are often larger than females. The structure of a raccoon’s body is a bit like a fox or a dog. The raccoon’s paws are an important distinguishing feature of these animals; they have very elongated pads, even reminiscent of human hands. So all raccoons have excellent grasping abilities. Raccoons easily climb on trees and can manipulate various small objects. The raccoon’s tail is long and usually fluffy. As for the color, all raccoons have a grayish-brown color, and their tail is painted with transverse black and white stripes. The raccoon’s head is very wide, has a short and sharp muzzle, and small and rounded ears. Interesting fact: all raccoons not only easily climb on trees, but also swim well, and can even swim in cold water, which is facilitated by the special composition of their fur, which consists of 90% thick undercoat as if specially adapted by nature to protect it from cold water. Lifespan How long do raccoons live? The lifespan of raccoons at home is 10-15 years. Yet their relatives living in the forest, in the wild, rarely live even up to 10 years. Habitat Where do raccoons live? Raccoons are natives of North and South America; they can be found in forests from Canada to Argentina. Raccoons came to Eurasia with the discovery of America by Europeans. Raccoons populations have been created in many countries of Europe and also in the Caucasus. Lifestyle Raccoons are friendly, peaceful, active and curious. However, despite their peacefulness, they are not cowardly. They can bravely defend themselves in case of danger, bite, and scratch. They can also threaten to rumble, trying to scare a potential opponent. In particularly dangerous situations, raccoons can flee or pretend to be dead. Despite friendliness and sociability, raccoons prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle in natural conditions, gathering together only for mating and for winter hibernation. Raccoons, like bears, fall into winter hibernation for the winter, and the biological mechanisms of hibernation in raccoons are similar to bear. Hibernation itself in raccoons lasts depending on the duration of the cold period. Canadian raccoons sleep the longest period, in which hibernation can last up to 5 months, but raccoons that live in the warm tropics of Central America do not fall into hibernation at all, due to the lack of winter in their habitats. Raccoons are a twilight animal, which means they are most active in the evening and at night, preferring to sleep in their cozy lair on the day. But with the onset of the evening, they go out in search of food. Diet What do raccoons eat? Raccoons are omnivores; so they can eat all kinds of berries, nuts, acorns, fruits, and small animals: frogs, large insects, snails, crayfish, and crabs. They are very good at catching small fish. Enemies In turn, raccoons themselves can become prey to other larger predators: bears, wolves, lynxes, coyotes, wolverines, and cougars. In trying to escape from their enemies, raccoons often resort to tricks – they pretend to be dead, but when this trick does not work, and it is not possible to flee, they desperately resist, struggling for their life. However, unfortunately, this is not always possible.