Raccoons Wallpapers
The raccoon (Procyon lotor), also known as common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon and colloquially coon, is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. Raccoons are now also distributed across the European mainland and the Caucasus region, as a result of escapes from fur farms and deliberate introductions in the mid-20th century. Their original habitats are deciduous and mixed forests, but due to their adaptability they have extended their range not only to mountain areas and coastal marshes, but also to urban areas, where some house owners consider them to be pests.With a body length between 41 and 71 cm (16.1–28.0 in) and a weight between 3.9 and 9.0 kg (8.6–19.8 lb), the raccoon is the largest procyonid. Two of its most distinctive characteristics besides its good memory are the facial mask and the extremely sensitive front paws; features dealt with in the mythology of several Native American tribes. The diet of the omnivorous and usually nocturnal raccoon consists of about 40% of invertebrates, 33% of plant foods and 27% of vertebrates. Captive Raccoons sometimes douse their food before eating it, what is most likely a vacuum activity to mimic foraging at shores.Many Raccoons which have reached their sexual maturity will show aggressive natural behaviors like biting during mating season. Neutering them at around five or six months of age decreases the chance of this happening. They can develop obesity and other disorders due to unnatural diet and lack of exercise. When fed with cat food over a long time period, like often done, Raccoons can get gout. With regard to the result of the latest research about their social behavior, veterinarian Bernhard Böer argues that Raccoons should not be kept alone since they may grow lonely without contact to conspecifics. Since Raccoons will most likely wreak havoc in the household due to their inborn curiosity, they are usually kept in a pen, what is already required by law in Germany. It is usually impossible to teach Raccoons to obey commands.
