THE RACCOON FAMILY 



( Procyonidcc) 



HE Raccoon family in North America is limited to two members — the 

 Raccoon, of which there are several species, and the Ring-tailed Cat. These 

 animals are Carnivores, with head broad at the back and tapering rapidly 

 forward to a narrow muzzle. Ears are of moderate size. Feet are plantigrade, 

 with soles naked. The toes are free, and capable of being widely spread. 

 The claws are curved, and non-retractile. The tail is semi-bushy, and generally 

 ringed. The body is short and stocky. 



One member of this family is among the best known of our native 

 animals; while the other is almost entirely unknown even to many sports- 

 men. This is because of the latter's restricted range in the desert lands 

 along the Mexican border. 



EASTERN RACCOON 

 Procyon lotor {Linnaeus) 



General Description. — A short-legged, long-haired 

 animal the size of a small dog (Cocker Spaniel). 

 Head broad ; nose pointed ; tail bushy, cylindrical, and 

 annulated ; ears erect and comparatively short : toes 

 five on all feet; soles of feet naked; plantigrade; gen- 

 eral color grayish or yellowish-gray, black patch about 

 eye. and blackish rings around tail. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors, ~^- ; Canines, -i— ^ ; Pre- 



molars — — ; Molars, ^^ — ^=40. 

 4—4 2—2 ^ 



Pelage. — Sexes alike ; young similar to adults but 

 rather grayer at first. Above, grayish or dull brownish- 

 gray becoming yellower on back, strongly yellow on 

 nape and on tail, and a paler gray on belly and feet; 

 long hairs of entire upper parts, especially of dorsal 

 region, black-tipped, of lower parts, white-tipped; on 

 cheek a black patch that includes eye and joins with 

 the narrow blackish stripe that runs from nose to 

 the dark color on forehead ; face dull white, whitest 

 in band above each eye; ear behind black, joining with 

 a black patch on neck back of ear; tip of ear whitish 

 behind; tail with 6 or 7 rings of very dark brown or 

 black on a pale yellowish background ; eyes dark, 

 whiskers white. 



Measurements. — Considerable variation. Average 

 length. i2 inches; tail, 10^ inches; hind foot. 4'<> inches. 

 Weight 15 to 22 pounds. 



Range. — Eastern America from Canada to Georgia, 

 west to the Rocky Mountains north of Texas. 



Food. — Quite omnivorous ; frogs, fish, small mam- 

 mals, birds and eggs, reptiles, insects, shell-fish, fruits, 

 corn and grain. 



Remarks. — The Raccoon has often been called the 

 little brother of the Bear, this association being due 

 mainly to the resemblance in build and in the naked, 

 full-soled feet. The Raccoon is the sole representative 

 (with the exception of the Ring-tailed Cat) of a 



family found only in the New World ; there are no 

 Raccoons in the Old World. Differences in size, color 

 and proportions of the skull account for the separation 

 of the North American Raccoons into six species and 

 subspecies. 



EASTERN RACCOON 



The Raccoon's habit of washing its' food before eating it, even 

 in captivity, is one of its peculiar traits 



Rel.ated Species 



Eastern Raccoon. — Procyon lotor lotor (Linnaeus). 

 The typical animal described above. Eastern America 

 from Canada to Georgia, west to Rocky Mountains 

 north of Texas. 



Florida Raccoon. — Procyon lotor rluctis Bangs. 

 Darker, shorter haired, longer tail. Eastern Georgia 

 and Florida. 



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