Mother Nature works with absolute perfection, giving us the most beautiful postcards, the most incredible plants and the most curious animals. Super intelligent species, aquatic, terrestrial, winged, hermaphrodites… there is everything in the immense world of animals. At we declare ourselves his lovers and defenders, and on this occasion We want to talk to you about the peculiarities of a little animal that usually invades the patios of houses, with that natural mask that makes it look like a real cartoon thief. Join us to learn about the most interesting curiosities about the raccoon.
10 curiosities about the raccoon that you cannot miss
1. Its origin
We begin this tour with the curiosities of the raccoon, telling you that it is a natural species from North America. Yes, the raccoon is American! However, we can also find it in other European countries such as Germany, Poland, Russia, Finland, Denmark or France, and it was even introduced in Japan thanks to a Disney series that was very popular in that country: Rascal the raccoon. 1,500 copies were imported here, starting in 1977. If we travel to South America, we can find it in Argentina.
2. They are very intelligent
Another of the most notable facts about our masked friend is that he is one of the most intelligent animals in the world. Various studies and observations on raccoons in the wild have collected valuable information. It has been shown that they have a great development of intelligence, by learning to solve different problems, such as opening a tightly closed garbage can.
This could be discovered thanks to video cameras placed in the yards of some houses, in the United States, to know how they move in the dark (they are mostly nocturnal animals). In one case, they closed the garbage very well and in the video you can see how a group of two individuals, after trying several times, managed to open it and make the resulting disaster. And they are able to remember solving tasks up to 3 years later!
3. They are especially adaptable
Another of the most interesting curiosities about the raccoon is that it is one of the animals that live in the city. It can coexist perfectly with humans, although its natural habitat is forests. In urban areas, they do not present any survival problem and, in fact, the populations of cities are 20% larger than in the countryside.. They get into chimneys, through small cracks, into abandoned houses or into patios. They take out the trash, they eat what they find and they even scare you if you happen to go see what the noises are that you hear.
In Fukushima, for example, they have become a real problem, as they have invaded the nuclear power plant (abandoned since 2011 due to the accident) and wander alongside wild boars and other species of wild pigs. This year they captured 1,100 raccoons. In general it can be said that they have benefited greatly from human presence, and now they establish themselves near settlements.
4. They are very fast
Well, they are not exactly Superman, but they are very fast animals with great climbing ability. Among the curiosities of the raccoon, we tell you that When these friendly animals run cross-country they can reach up to 24 kilometers per hour! Really fast. And, if they fall from great heights, there is no problem, they survive easily, just as if they possessed the nine feline lives…
5. Their paws are very curious
Raccoons are plantigrade, meaning they can stand on their hind legs and pick up objects with their front legs, like bears. They have 5 fingers on each one, which gives them a certain resemblance to human hands, and they can rotate their back ones at an extraordinary 180º angle, which gives them that wonderful ability to climb.
6. The raccoon… Does it vocalize?
That’s how it is! Among the curiosities of the raccoon it is said that Up to 50 types of vocalizations have been recorded, or complex sounds that they use to communicate with each other.. They growl, whisper, scream and hiss, and each has a specific function in communication.
7. Raccoons as pets
You can count on a cute raccoon as company if you give it the care and attention it needs. Like cats, he becomes surly if you don’t give him love and caresses. It can be a little stressful to have a raccoon in your house (unless you have enough outside space for it to get a minimum of physical activity), since His enormous curiosity makes him investigate, dig and climb in all unimaginable places. If you do not monitor it, it can cause an accident with cables, poisoning with insecticides, etc.
But you also have to be careful with this type of pet, keep in mind that it is not the same as a dog or a cat and It is a transmitter of certain deadly diseases for humans, such as rabies, leptospirosis or tularemia.
8. His black mask
We well know that the curious black mask is the most distinctive feature of the species. Well, among the curiosities of the raccoon, we tell you that this curious feature of its physical appearance has nothing to do with aesthetics, but rather is very functional. The mask serves to improve the animal’s vision, suppressing reflections, since the color black absorbs light. Also added is the fact that, contrary to popular belief, they are not solitary animals. What’s more, females usually gather around rivers to share their food, and males group together to defend their territories.
9. Types of raccoon
Another curiosity about the raccoon is that there are different varieties of the species. The most famous is the common raccoon (Procyon lotor), a native of the United States. It’s just that little masked man that cartoons generally reproduce. But There are a total of six species of raccoons native to North and South America.
10. Your diet
And we close this trip with the curiosities of the raccoon, telling you about its diet. This small animal is omnivorous, so its food sources are very broad. They can eat grasses, fruits and eggs, but also worms, turtles, frogs, birds and small mammals. Even in cases where hunger attacks them, they can become scavengers and eat the meat of a dead animal.
And you, Did you know these curiosities about the raccoon? Do you know of any others that you would like to add to the list? Feel free to leave us all your opinions in a comment. We will be looking forward to reading you! And if you, like us, like exotic animals, then we invite you to get to know the red panda, perhaps the most beautiful mammal in the world. Now, if what you want is a little inspiration and connection with the natural world, enjoy this charming selection of the best animal phrases. We are looking forward to a super curious next article!