Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Racoon


The Raccoon (Procyon lotor), also known as Common Raccoon, North American Raccoon, Northern Raccoon, Washing Bear or informal Coon, is a medium-sized mammal native to North America and the most widespread species of the family Procyonidae. Since the mid-20th century they have also been introduced to the European mainland[1] and in the Caucasus region[2] after having escaped from fur farms or being deliberately released to the wild.
Two of the most distinctive characteristics of the raccoon are its facial mask around the eyes and extremely sensitive front paws
[3]; they are also known for their good memory[4]. Often raccoons live together in small, loose groups[5]. Their original habitats are deciduous or mixed forests, but due to their adaptability, they are also found in urban areas where some house owners consider them to be pests.[6] Furthermore, raccoons are omnivorous and usually most active during the night.

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