AndySing

A North American animal whose name has Native American origins. The word for "raccoon" was among the Powhatan words first recorded by English colonists at Jamestown, variously spelled aroughcun, arathkone or rahaugcum. (The Spanish word for "raccoon," mapache, comes from the Nahuatl/Aztec names for the creature, mapachin or mapachtli.)

The reflective layer in the lens of the eye that makes raccoon eyes seem to glow red in the dark also magnifies images of nearby objects. Raccoon vision isbinocular, giving them depth perception, and the animals have the ability to distinguish colors.

Azeban (also spelled Azban, Asban or Azaban) isa raccoon, the Abenaki trickster figure. Pronounced ah-zuh-bahn. Azeban does many foolish and/or mischievous things in Abenaki folktales, but unlike animal tricksters in some other tribes, is not dangerous or malevolent.

DURATION OF FAMILIAL BONDS AND DISPERSAL PATTERNS FOR RACCOONS IN SOUTH TEXAS STANLEY D. GEHRT AND ERIK K. FRITZELL Families of raccoons (Procyon [afar) were monitored during 1990-1992 on the Welder Wildlife Refuge in south Texas to determine duration of familial bonds and patterns of natal dispersal and philopatry. Analysis of the pre-dispersal movements of 11 family units indicated family bonds often were maintained until juveniles' first mating season. Twelve of 13 radiocollared males dispersed or died before their second mating season, including eight that were known to be born on the study area, but all radiocollared females (n = 14) remained within natal areas. Related females maintained extensive spatial overlap, and some continued to den and travel together as adults.

Rocky enjoying peanuts and kitty food.

Learning how to build trust with a wild critter is a long process. I started by placing the plate about 5 yards from my door and each night moved to plate closer. Every time Mama showed up I always stayed visible and let her get used to my voice.

Dens Raccoons make dens in hollow trees, rock crevices, or burrows dug by other animals, and in storm sewers, crawl spaces, chimneys and attics. Except during extreme weather or when a mother is denned with her young, Raccoons do not occupy a den for more than one or two days. Females who are disturbed will often move their young to new dens. Raccoons do not hibernate, but they do live off stored body fat when food is scarce during the winter. Re: pets.com

Her real name is McGill but everybody knows Rocky's fancy is Nancy.

Hand feeding treats at the door.

Taking marshmallows by hand took about three and a half weeks of building trust between the two of us.

Momma shows her babies where the goodies are.

Can you guess what she has? Is it two boys and a girl or two girls and a boy. Maybe the runt is actually a boy but identifies as a girl? Y'all be the judge.

Name black bear just minding his own business looking for a snack.

Andy n Rocky doing the bonding thing.

Mama steals the marshmallow from the babies

This is the third time she's brought them out. I think she's teaching them available food sources.

Crunch crunch crunch... They like the peanuts but the babies get puppy Chow tomorrow. 😁

Like many animals of greater intelligence, raccoons are considered to havea fission-fusion societywhere larger groups break off into smaller units and solo animals and may come together again at different times of the day or throughout the year.

Enjoying their nuts and kitty food.

The adult raccoon is a medium-sized mammal and the largest of the Procyonidae family. It averages 24 to 38 inches in length and can weigh between 14 to 23 lbs., or more, depending upon habitat and available food. The male raccoon, or boar, is slightly larger than the female, also referred to as sow. The young are called kits.