Raccoon 30cm - Cuddly Toy

Physical Characteristics
Two of the most distinctive features of the raccoon are its extremely sensitive front paws and facial mask. Its dense underfur, which insulates against cold weather, accounts for almost 90% of its greyish coat. It has a body length of 41 to 72 cm and a weight of 3.6 to 9.0 kg. The most characteristic physical feature of the raccoon is the area of black fur around the eyes which contrasts sharply with the surrounding white face coloring. This is reminiscent of a "bandit's mask" and has thus enhanced the animal's reputation for mischief.

Habitat
Raccoons' original habitats are deciduous and mixed forests, but due to their adaptability they have extended their range to mountainous areas, coastal marshes, and even urban areas, where some homeowners consider them pests.

Behaviour
Raccoons are adaptable, and use their dexterous front paws and long fingers to find and feast on a wide variety of fare. Raccoons in the northern parts of their range gorge themselves in spring and summer to store up body fat. They then spend much of the winter asleep in a den.

Breeding
Female raccoons have one to seven cubs in early summer. The young raccoons often spend the first two months or so of their lives high in a tree hole. Later, mother and children move to the ground when the cubs begin to explore on their own.

Diet
Raccoons are omnivorous and usually nocturnal, and their diet consists of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant foods and 27% vertebrates.

Strange and Interesting Facts
The word raccoon is derived from the Algonquin word ahrah-koon-em - other transcriptions exist - which was the pronunciation used by Chief Powhatan and his daughter Pocahontas, meaning "[the] one who rubs, scrubs and scratches with it's hands".