Raccoon gargle is a predator, which belongs to the family of raccoons and is known for its unusual skill and cunning. Raccoon stripes Lifestyle and habitat for a long time, among biologists have not subsided debate about which family to include representatives of this species: cat, dog, or kunya, but in the end, without reaching a consensus, the animal was finally singled out in the category of a raccoon.
The name of the raccoon is translated from Sanskrit as "Scratching with your own hands" and from Latin as "similar to a dog". The prefix "Rabbit" is attached to this type of raccoons for their habit to dip it in water and rub your feet before eating. From the outside, it seems that the raccoon gargle washes its laundry.
Features and habitat of the raccoon stripes Coon stripes has a stocky and dense body. The total length of its body usually does not exceed sixty centimeters, and its height is thirty-five centimeters. The weight of such raccoons varies in the range from five to ten kilograms, although some individuals may significantly exceed this figure.
Looking at the photo of a striped raccoon, one can notice that the fur of the animal is thick and lush, and the undercoat is dense and shot down. The color of most individuals has gray and yellow tones, the back and sides are usually darker. The tail of raccoons has several light and dark stripes, which alternate with each other, forming a beautiful original pattern.
Lifestyle and Habitat of the raccoon stripes
The raccoon stripes have a kind of "mask", which is its distinctive feature and distinguishes it from other animals. It looks usually in the form of two relatively symmetrical spots directly around the eyes of the animal.
The ears have a sharpened shape. The paws of the raccoon strip are extremely mobile. On them, the animal is able to move as well as skillfully climb trees. The raccoon gargle is a native inhabitant of both North and Central America, from which it was brought to Europe and some Asian countries. To date, this species has managed to acclimatize in such countries as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. On the territory of Russia, you can also find raccoons stripes, especially within the Far East.
Representatives of this species of raccoon prefer to settle directly among the forests of deciduous or mixed species mainly in the plains or lowlands. Nearby must be present any water body: a stream, swamp, lake or river. Raccoons stripes, living in the southern area, can arrange their homes right on the coast. Animals are not afraid of humans and can settle in the immediate vicinity of cities and towns. They are often found in city squares, on the edges of parks and plantings, and among botanical gardens.
On the territory of North America, farmers are forced to make real wars with raccoons stripes, because they often raid chicken coops and plant fruit and vegetable crops. The character and lifestyle of the Raccoon Stripes is a predator and leads mainly a nightlife. During the day, the animal prefers to hide in a comfortable hollow or other lairs, coming out of there to hunt at the same time as dusk.
Every raccoon has its own territory, the radius of which typically arrives at one and a half - two kilometers. Directly in this area, the animal has several shelters, which are not occupied by other representatives of the species.
Sometimes the borderlands of different raccoons intersect, then they have a kind of competition for "control" over the disputed area. In winter, the raccoon stripes go into hibernation, unlike other members of the family. However, this is true only for those individuals who live in the northern regions.
The duration of hibernation of striped raccoons is from four to five months, but the sleep itself is not deep enough, because the processes of life during sleep do not slow down and body temperature does not fall.
On especially warm days, an animal may even leave the shelter for a few hours and take a walk. In winter, the raccoon gargle is definitely less active than in the warm season. Feeding raccoons gargle during the winter hibernation is due to fat deposits, which are deposited under the animal's fur layer of up to three centimeters. In a particularly large hollow or large shelter can be simultaneously filled with up to ten animals during the winter hibernation. The eyesight of the striped raccoons is extremely well developed, which in turn allows them to see great even in the dark. Their hearing is as good as their eyesight, which is why the raccoon stripes are an excellent predator.
With their very tenacious paws, the species is able to move quickly along the trunks of trees. And they can do it with their head down or hanging like sloths. Raccoon gargle is characterized by a high degree of resistance to various viruses and infections, and the fur and the thick skin of the animal allow it to protect itself from the bites of all kinds of insects, on the nests of which it raids quite often.
Raccoons stripes living in natural conditions
Raccoons stripes, living in natural conditions, in turn, can become a victim of coyotes, wolves, lynxes, owls, alligators. For youthful people, snakes can represent a specific danger. Nutrition The main food search for gargle raccoons is usually concentrated around water sources. They can catch fish, arthropods, frogs, and some species of turtles. Raccoons also love turtle eggs, hamsters, muskrat, and muskrats. During hunting in the forest, the animal eats mainly insects, larvae, rainworms, fruits, berries, nuts, and bird eggs.
Some regions suffer some damage due to the fact that raccoons gargle in them make regular raids on chicken coops and places of industrial bird growing. Raccoons, being predators, do not mind to eat rabbits, snails, and squirrels. However, their diet also includes numerous berries, cherries, gooseberries, grapes, vegetables, cereals, and much more.
Reproduction and life expectancy of raccoon strips male raccoons polygamous. This means that directly during the mating period (which usually falls on the cold season, but can be delayed until early summer) they are trying to fertilize as many females as possible.
Stripe raccoon puppies are born after nine weeks of female pregnancy. Usually, three to four calves are born at one time. Significantly less often - one or more than seven. During the first three weeks of life, raccoon calves are helpless and blind, but after a few weeks, they become quite independent and stop eating the mother's milk.
How many striped raccoons live?
The raccoon striped raccoon at home can live for more than eleven years. In wildlife conditions, the average fixed life expectancy is five to six years. For those who want to buy raccoon stripes, you should take into account the fact that the animal is a predator and prefers to lead a nightlife, which in turn can cause certain inconveniences.
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