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Pest Index

Raccoon

Binomial Name: Procton Iotorraccoon (9 months) - Procyon lotor

Identification:

  • Overall Length: 60-95 cm
  • Colour: Reddish brown above; greyish below; black mask on face
  • Weight: 12-48 lbs
  • Tail: 19-40 cm; bushy with 4-6 alternating black and brown or brownish-grey rings

Life Cycle:  Raccoons mainly breed in February and March.  Gestation lasts about 63 days with most litters being born in April or May.  Only 1 litter of young is raised per female per year with an average litter size of 3-5 young.  Raccoon young first open their eyes at about 3 weeks and are weaned between 2 and 4 months of age.

Behaviour:  Adult males tend to be territorial and their ranges seldom overlap.  Raccoons do not truly hibernate but they ‘hole up’ in dens and become inactive during severe winter weather.  This period of inactivity may last from a few days to multiple weeks.  Generally, raccoons are active only at night and may become a nuisance in suburban areas when they raid garbage cans for food.  Raccoons can gain access into chimneys, attics, basements, or crawl spaces and sometimes take up residence in barns, stables and various out buildings.

Signs of Infestation:  Raccoons may cause damage or nuisance problems in a variety of ways.  Raccoons are excellent climbers and frequently will enter buildings by climbing trees, downspouts or by shimmying up the side of a building.  Look for smudge or scratch marks on trees or at the corner of buildings.  Latrines on roofs and in attics are classic signs of raccoon presence.