Critter: Raccoon

Courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department

I am a raccoon, or a Procyon lotor.

I have black hair around my eyes that makes me look like I'm wearing a mask.

With striped brown, black and gray fur, I'm about 16 to 28 inches in length. My ringed tail is anywhere from 8 to 12 inches long and I weigh from 15 to 40 pounds. With my paws on the ground, I stand about 12 inches tall at the shoulder.

I like to hang out in areas with trees and near rivers and ponds. You can find me in many areas of Arizona, but I shy away from the south central part of the state.

I'm mostly active at night, but sometimes can be found sunbathing in a tree. I live in dens that I make in hollow trees, holes in the ground and even under buildings.

When it comes to food, my tastes range from nuts and berries to crayfish, rodents and carrion. I will gladly take vegetables from your garden and stuff from your trash can, too.

My mating season is in December and January. I am pregnant for about 63 days. Usually I have two to seven babies, and they are born blind. Newborns are about 4 inches long and weigh about 2 ounces. They have light fur, but I know they are mine because they have a faint mask and a ringed tail. How cute ? and they grow so fast!

They nurse for several weeks and open their eyes at about 21 days. The adventure of leaving the den usually happens at about 10 weeks of age. The babies are completely independent at anywhere from 4 to 6 months of age.

Don't think I am bragging, but I climb and swim very well.