Mammals The Raccoon 
Raccoons usually have their nests in hollow trees, 
or in caverns in rockyledges. They are night wander- 
ers, and sleep daytimes, curled up in the forks of 
branches. It is a comical sight when a coon thus 
arranges itself for a nap; it adapts its fat body to 
this uneven narrow bed with perfect ease, and tucks 
its nose down beneath its paws, and curls its tail 
about its body, thus making itself into a furry ball. 
The black and gray ringed tail protects its owner 
from sight because its colors seem like flecks of sun- 
shine and shadow amid the foliage of the tree. 
During the summer the raccoon lays on enough fat 
to sustain it during the winter. Usually several lie 
together in their winter nest, sleeping away the hun- 
gry cold months. When they come forth during the 
thaws of March or April to hunt for what scant food 
they may find, they are lean and weak. 
The young are born in April and May, usually 
from three to six in a litter; they are blind and help- 
less at first, and are cared for tenderly by their 
parents. The family usually remains together for 
a year, when the youngsters are fully grown. The 
young cry pitifully when separated from their 
parents. In fact, the coon’s cry is never a cheerful 
sound; it is a strange, sad wail, ending in a whimper. 
The raccoon is a very general feeder, and is fond of 
corn in the milk stage, and thus does much damage. 
It is also fond of poultry, and destroys birds’ nests. 
It is fond of fish, and catches them in its paws while 
sitting on the shore. It eats frogs, turtle eggs, 
snakes, and on the Gulf coast feeds largely upon 
oysters. It also relishes fruit, especially berries and 
wild grapes. 
As a pet, the raccoon soon learns to do a great 
many things which we would rather it did not learn. 
120 
