24 » Friday, May 28, 2021
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Five Fun Facts About… The Common Raccoon By: Dawn Wilson
This week’s featured subject is the common raccoon. Raccoons are one of the most ubiquitous animals in North America, found in just about every region of the U. S. — from the swamps of the southeast to the mountains of Colorado, and in rural or urban areas. The only environments they typically do not live are hot, dry
Raccoons use their dexterous hands and the ability to rotate their back feet 180 degrees to climb up and down trees.
climates like the deserts of Arizona and Nevada. Here are more fun facts about this masked bandit. 1. In the U. S., common raccoons are the largest member of the procyonid family, a group of tree-climbing mammals which includes coati and ringtail. Only the raccoon is found in Estes Valley. 2. Common raccoons can weigh up to
20 pounds and are about 35 to 45 inches in length. 3. Raccoons, with their excellent night vision and acute hearing, are primarily nocturnal and thrive under the cover of night. 4. The word “raccoon” is derived from an Algonquin word meaning “he scratches with his hands. ” 5. Unlike most animals, the raccoon
can descend a tree headfirst by rotating the hindfoot 180 degrees. Dawn Wilson is a professional and award-winning nature photographer who lives in Estes Park year-round. You can see more of her work, join one of her Rocky tours, and purchase prints and calendars at DawnWilsonPhotography.com or follow her on Instagram: @dawnwilsonphoto.
Although primarily nocturnal, raccoons will occasionally be seen during the edges of the day and most often near water.
Although many have a love-hate relationship with raccoons as they can be destructive around homes, you can't deny they do have an adorable yet mischievous look about them.
Raccoons have excellent night vision, a feature they take full advantage of to dig through garbage cans and dumpsters at night like this guy in downtown Estes Park.
Raccoons are excellent climbers and use this skill to climb up trees where they sleep during the day.