RS Vacations – Big Bear Lake, CA

Raccoons are so cute! and smart…and sneaky…and destructive…Well, we all have our dark side, don’t we? Here is an in-depth look at one of Big Bear’s most loved (and hated) critters.

The North American Raccoon gets its name from the Algonquin word arakun, which means ‘one who scratches with his hands’ and its scientific name is Procyon lotor, which means ‘washer dog’. They got this name because it was once thought that they washed their food before eating it -which, considering what they eat, is probably not a bad idea! Raccoons are omnivores – they can and will eat anything – plants, fruits, insects, rodents, garbage, roadkill, and the occasional bowl of dog kibble. They have very nimble fingers that they eat with and have no trouble opening trash cans, jars or doors and even have the ability to unlace a shoe. (So that is who keeps untying my shoes!)

These masked bandits are nocturnal (active at night) and are considered ‘generalists’, which means that they can adapt to nearly any environment and food source. Raccoons do not construct their own dens. They live in tree holes, abandoned dens, chimneys, attics and under the house or deck. They are squatters! During the autumn months, they pack on extra weight to get them through the winter. The largest animal on record weighed in at 60 pounds! They do not hibernate, but they sleep a lot during the cold winter months and do not want to go out in the harsh weather. (I know how they feel!)

Raccoons are good swimmers, can run up to 15 mph and they are great climbers – they are one of the few animals that can descend a tree head first. They can even drop from a height of 35 – 40 feet and be unharmed. They can make a wide range of sounds including purring, whistling, growling, hissing, screaming and even whinnying. (So if you hear a horse at your door, make sure you check the peephole,  it might just be a sneaky raccoon doing his Mr. Ed impersonation! )