National Raccoon Day

Today is National Raccoon Day!

Raccoons are a mammal native to North America. Well, the North American raccoon is arguably one of the more famous species of the animal. That's because they've been introduced to Europe and Japan in the past. Most notably, Japan got a bit of mania for the critters thanks to the anime Rascal the Raccoon. They're also known for their ringed tails, their facial markings that make them look like they're wearing masks, their dexterous paws and their gray thick fur which serves to insulate them from the cold. 

Raccoons are also known for their adaptability and intelligence. This has allowed them to make homes in a variety of areas, even though they originally could be found in forests. They are usually nocturnal animals, although they can be active in the daytime to take advantage of food sources. Their diet is rather diverse, as they are omnivorous. They can eat berries, fruits, nuts, bird eggs, insects, and fish. 

Raccoons have very strong senses of touch thanks to little whisker-like vibrissae above their claws in their front paws. They also were originally believed to be solitary animals, until studies suggested that they do engage in certain social behaviors. For example, female raccoons live in what is called a "fission-fusion society". 

Raccoons are known to "wash" their food after dabbling for it at shorelines. The reason for this is not exactly known, but the general theory is that it's an instinctual behavior. 

In the wild, raccoons tend to live around 1-3 years. This is due to many factors, like weather severity, traffic, and diseases like distemper and rabies. They've also been preyed on by bears, great horned owls, cougars, wolves, bobcats, and even alligators. In captivity, raccoons have been known to live around 20 years.

Raccoons are part of folklore and mythology in Native American cultures. In some of these tales, the raccoon is portrayed as a sly tricker. 

So, yeah. Raccoons are quite fascinating creatures. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!