Vol. 5, No. 2 
Page 3 
5. Investigations of Furbeaxers Ralph J. Ellis 
During the past fur season, 1,547 raccoons were autopsied. Almost equal 
numbers of raccoons came from the northern and southern hunting zones. It was 
possible to assess sexual activity on 1,515 of these raccoons. Uterine swelling 
or pregnancy in the female and the presence of sperm in the male were considered 
signs of sexual activity. 
Table 1 shows the effects of sex, age, latitude, and time of year on sexual 
activity in raccoons. These data show that during the hunting and trapping season 
a greater percentage of raccoons were sexually active in the southern zone than in 
the northern zone. Sexual activity was most apparent in adult raccoons and in the 
raccoons examined during the first half of the season. Table 1 also suggests that 
raccoons of both sexes and all age classes come into breeding condition earlier in 
the southern zone than in the northern zone. Adult males appear to become sexually 
active first, followed by juvenile males, adult females, and juvenile females. 
Table 1.—Percentage of Illinois raccoons demonstrating signs of sexual 
activity during the 1961-62 trapping and hunting season. 
Males 
Females 
Juveniles 
Adults 
Juveniles 
Adults 
Northern 
Southern 
Northern 
Southern 
Northern 
Southern 
Northern 
Southern 
Zone 
Zone 
Zone 
Zone 
Zone 
Zone 
Zone 
Zone 
Nov. 4.4(68)* 
13.8(58) 
87.1(31) 
100.0(13) 
0.0(100) 
0.0(46) 
0.0(44) 
4.3(23) 
Dec. 19.8(81) 
32.9(85) 
97.0(34) 
100.0(38) 
2.4(82) 
11.1(72) 
0.0(37) 
22.4(49) 
Jan. 33.3(39) 
38.7(93) 
89.3(28) 
100.0(70) 
6.4(31) 
23.8(63) 
47.0(17) 
81.2(48) 
Feb.** 59.5(42) 
54.2(24) 
98.1(54) 
100.0(25) 
26.2(42) 
18.8(16) 
65.8(38) 
83.3(24)t 
AU 24.8(230) 
Months 
32.7(260) 
93.9(147) 
100.0(146) 
5.9(255) 
13.2(197) 
24.3(136) 
49.3(144) 
* Numbers in parentheses indicate sample size. 
** An unidentified portion of one sample examined in the northern zone during 
February was known to have come from the southern zone, 
t Includes the only pregnancy identified. 
6. Waterfowl Inventory F. C. Bellrose 
The spring inventory of waterfowl populations in Illinois started on February 
23, 24, and 26. In spite of snow and ice on lakes and sloughs of the Illinois 
and Mississippi River valleys, waterfowl were well advanced in their spring mig¬ 
ration. Canada geese were found throughout the census area and as far north as 
