What does a raccoon gargle. Why is the raccoon so called

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a small mammal of the raccoon family. Its homeland is Central and North America, but at the beginning of the 20th century the raccoon was brought to Europe. Now it can be found here in the North Caucasus and the Far East. This animal prefers a nocturnal lifestyle, it spends daylight hours in a shelter. Raccoons love to live in hollows, heaps of branches or other people's holes, because they themselves do not know how to dig.

Raccoons are solitary territorial animals. The area occupied by one individual is usually up to one and a half kilometers. The breeding season for raccoons is in early spring. Pregnancy lasts about 60 days. The female brings 4-6 cubs, which become completely independent by the age of five months.

In captivity, keeping a raccoon has both its difficulties and advantages. Firstly, this is a very active and curious animal, and thanks to almost human "hands" they are able to open any doors, unscrew taps, and climb into the most incredible places. Therefore, it is not recommended to leave the animal unattended. It is necessary to have a special aviary or a large cage to lock it at night, or during your absence.

A big plus is that this is an omnivore, so there will be no difficulties with feeding, you can occasionally even give any ready-made animal feed that is available. The only thing that is not recommended is to completely switch to such food. Your pet will be happy to eat fruits, nuts, berries, root crops.

An interesting feature of the raccoon is the habit of rinsing various objects in water, including food, before putting it into the mouth. And yet why does a raccoon wash his food in water? It is impossible to classify him as a cleaner, because he will rinse completely clean fruits in dirty water, and then eat them with pleasure. And if you give him a piece of a bun, a cookie or a candy, then the raccoon washes these products with such enthusiasm that nothing will remain in his paws. This explains why the animal received such a name, the striped raccoon, but does not reveal the very secret of why he does this.

And the answer to why the raccoon is called the gargle must be sought in nature, where it lives and what it eats. After all, this animal settles near water bodies. In swamps and ponds, he finds food for himself: crustaceans, fish, aquatic insects and their larvae. But, since he has to hunt in complete darkness, naturally he does not see his prey, and the sense of smell in the water is not an assistant to him, so it remains to catch by touch. What he does is sticks his paws into coastal silt, stirs up small minks, turns over pebbles to find larvae, frogs, insects, water snakes. Such actions from the side are very similar to washing, and they are so firmly fixed in the subconscious of the animal that whenever he sees water and food, instinct is triggered. Even if the raccoon is not near the water, but is looking for small rodents in minks, beetles, insects, or snakes, he also has to “rummage around” in the dark.

Therefore, when keeping such a restless pet at home, it is necessary to ensure that he always has something to do. And of course you need free access to fresh water. It is better to choose a water container that is stable, as the animal can easily turn it over. In nature, the raccoon loves to climb trees, so it is recommended to organize some kind of climbing structure for him in the house. Although animals are quite well tamed, it is better to take a small animal. The older the animal, the more difficult it will be for him to get used to you. It should be remembered that with the onset of puberty, they can become less sociable and sometimes even aggressive, so it is not recommended to keep raccoons together with other pets. If you are not afraid of the difficulties and indefatigable temperament of this animal, then you are guaranteed funny antics and noisy fuss in the house. With a raccoon you will never be bored!

Today on our site - a raccoon. Why gargle - you will learn from this article.

The name of this predatory mammal in translation means - it scratches with its own hands - this is how the name of this species is translated - raccoon.

Raccoon habitat

The raccoon is native to Central and North America. Today it can be found in many countries of Europe, Asia and even in the Far East of Russia. And all this is thanks to the charm of this animal, which neither the settlers nor the tourists could resist, who literally took it all over the world.

Raccoons are very noble opportunists and can even live in cities and villages. But still, favorite places are forests near rivers and reservoirs, with a mild climate.

The appearance of a raccoon

In appearance, the raccoon is very similar to a raccoon dog. He has a stocky body, with short legs, on which long and strong fingers are located, with thin and long claws that tend not to extend.

The soles of the paws of the animal are not covered with fur. Also noteworthy is the fact that when walking, he rests on the entire surface of the paw, and when he stands, only on his fingers.

A wide head and a short, sharp muzzle, in the mouth of which there are up to 42 teeth.
But most of all, the raccoon is famous for its fur - thick, long and very warm - it is for this reason that this mammal often becomes the object of illegal fishing.

The coat color is a mixture of gray, black and yellow, which at times, after molting, has a shade of silver.

And of course, the famous raccoon tail, which has from 5 to 7 transverse rings of a darker color.

Listen to the voice of a raccoon

The weight of an adult individual can reach 15-16 kg, although on average it is 6-7 kg, and males are always heavier than females.

As for the size, the length of the raccoon is approximately 65 cm, the length of the tail is 25 cm, the height at the withers is up to 35 cm.

Raccoon lifestyle and nutrition

The raccoon is predominantly nocturnal. During the day, he sleeps on the branches of low trees, in hollows or abandoned burrows. With the onset of dusk, he goes hunting.

Raccoons have very good eyesight, which allows them to see in the dark and excellent hearing. At the same time, they are excellent climbers and deftly climb trees. Moreover, their strong paws and tenacious fingers allow them to do this in any direction - up, down, upside down and even upside down, while hanging like sloths.

On the ground, raccoons move slowly, but in case of danger they can also run, reaching speeds of up to 30 km / h.

All types of raccoons are good swimmers, but they do so only when necessary.

As for the diet, even though the raccoon is considered a predator, it is still omnivorous. With equal pleasure, he consumes both plant and animal food, while not disdaining the destruction of nests, but living near a person, he can raid garbage dumps.

Throughout the summer, the raccoon actively feeds, accumulating the subcutaneous fat necessary for winter sleep, the thickness of which can sometimes reach 3 cm.

Raccoon breeding

Throughout the mating season, the male raccoon actively expands its territory in search of potential brides.

These cute animals leave no one indifferent and have long been not only wild, but also domestic animals. New videos with pranks of furry pets regularly appear on the network: here a raccoon drowned the TV remote control in a container of water, and a minute later the owner’s brand new smartphone is already vigorously rinsing. For a long time, the feature of raccoons to rinse everything in the water was attributed to the love of animals for water games. But, as it turned out, this habit has another, not so harmless explanation.

Raccoons are near-water animals, that is, their life is inextricably linked with the reservoir. In the forest where raccoons live, there must certainly be a river or lake. The diet of raccoons is very diverse and they are quite unpretentious in food. Furry animals eat both plant foods and small animals. They can catch a rodent, lizard, frog, small snake or fish.

It has been observed that before eating, the raccoon always rinses its food in water, even if it is clean and does not need it. Because of this, the animal got its middle name - the raccoon. But in the course of numerous studies, scientists have found that such eating behavior has little to do with the desire to splash in water and wash food.

Love for water games is associated with a natural feature: raccoons turn over pebbles at the bottom of a stream or river, thereby trying to find small crustaceans or amphibians. Well, the desire to wash and rinse the prey before eating is nothing more than a way to kill the victim. According to zoologists, the raccoon "washes" its prey in the water until it stops showing signs of life. That is, the habit of rinsing is in no way connected with the love of excessive cleanliness, but is an innate reflex associated with the extraction of food.

The popularity of raccoons is growing rapidly, and more and more people are striving to get this cute living creature at home. But it is worth remembering that this wild animal cannot be brought up and trained, so your life will change dramatically with the advent of such a nimble animal in the apartment. Here, for example, is how pet lovers and owners of Tyoma the raccoon live.

Now it is fashionable to keep raccoons at home - they have become an exotic alternative to domestic dogs, but few people know that the beast is still a predator, and it is almost impossible to tame a pet. Animals from the raccoon family are known for cunning, dexterity and quick wit. They are not as kind as a cartoon character singing about a smile. You can start them at home, but you need to know what you need to be prepared for, in what conditions to keep a raccoon, and what to feed.

Who is a raccoon

This predatory mammal is about the size of a medium-sized dog and belongs to the raccoon family. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) comes from Central and North America, came to Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. A nimble animal is found in many parts of the world, including the North Caucasus and the Far East. The animal is nocturnal and hides during the day. For housing, raccoons choose hollows, other people's holes or small structures made of tree branches that “steal” from other animals. They breed in early spring.

What does it look like

The striped raccoon (or American raccoon) is a touching creature that looks like a dog or a fox. A medium-sized predator (weight from 6 to 9 kg, a well-fed animal reaches 16 kg), body length: 50–60 cm, tail on average 25 cm. Males are larger than females, with a strong and stocky body. Appearance has the following features:

• Head. The muzzle is wide, pointed, reminiscent of a mask (the illusion is created by the color: around the black nose there is white fur, the area of ​​​​the eye sockets and forehead is also black, around the eyes there are wide black lines with white edging that stretch to the neck), the ears are small, rounded shape.
• Limbs. Short but well developed toes. The paw is similar to a human hand: there are no partitions between the fingers and fine motor skills are well developed. These properties help the animal to cope well with small details. There are videos on the Internet of how cunning people open cans of beer and sneak into refrigerators. The paw finger ends with a pointed long claw so that they can climb trees to the top.
• Feet. Movable, rotate 180 degrees. This physiological feature allows the animals to tumble and perform tricks on trees.
• Wool. Dense, different in length in different parts of the body, on both sides of the head - longer (formed "tanks"). Color: gray-brown. The undercoat is dense.
• Tail. Fluffy, with dark brown or black rings, which can be up to 10 pieces.

Habitat

The striped raccoon prefers to settle in a mixed forest (avoids conifers). Animals cannot do without water, so there will definitely be a river, swamp or lake near their habitat. The raccoon likes to organize "houses" at a height of 20-30 meters above the ground, in hollows. Individuals living in the southern regions often make their homes on the coast. The animal is not shy, so it settles near the city. In the US, predators are raiding farms in the suburbs, and this is a problem for local residents who are at war with the animals.

Distribution area

The striped raccoon is native to North America, where it still lives from the Isthmus of Panama to the southern provinces of Canada. Predators were brought to Europe and Asia in the 20th century. Poloskun acclimatized in the forests of Azerbaijan, Belarus (Polesye), on the islands of the East Indies, in Germany, France and the Netherlands. In the USSR, poloskun cubs were brought in 1936, where they took root. Animals are found in the Far East, the Caucasus.

Character and lifestyle

The striped raccoon, like a predator, is nocturnal, preferring to hide in the den during the day. After sunset, the animal goes hunting. They are loners, they need personal space. The radius of the territory reaches two kilometers, if another representative of the species appears in the possessions of a furry animal, then a “war” begins - everyone defends the right to control the territory.

In winter, the raccoon, living in the northern regions, hibernates, this is the only representative of the raccoon family that has such a feature. Hibernation lasts up to five months, but the vital processes do not slow down, since the sleep of the animals is not deep. The animal often wakes up and goes for a short walk when it is warm, but physical activity is low in winter. The animal does not starve during hibernation, the body consumes the stock of fat deposits, and the animal has about three centimeters of them under the coat. Up to ten individuals can winter in a hollow.

Stripes prefer to settle in mixed, hollow forests, next to a reservoir. They often fall prey to large predators: wolves, lynxes, alligators. Snakes are also dangerous for puppies. Animals are able to stand up for themselves - being in a critical situation, they make throws, try to bite the enemy and growl intimidatingly. When the animal senses danger, it can run away at a speed of up to 30 km/h. If the situation is hopeless, the animal falls as if dead, deceiving the enemy.

Relationship with a person

Stripes are courageous and courageous, they are ready to fight with predators and destroy other people's nests, but when communicating with a person, the animal becomes friendly and affable. On such craftiness, he deliberately goes to charm, hoping to get something tasty. Poloskunov are kept as pets, as they easily get used to people, but the owners should not relax, be deceived by the cute tricks of the pet, because fluffy predators are stubborn and curious, creating problems. Mature individuals often become aggressive and unsociable.

Features of behavior in the natural environment

The raccoon lives for a long time in the wild, up to 20 years (in captivity - about 16 years). Having good eyesight, animals distinguish the smallest details in the dark. Their hearing is not worse, which makes them excellent predators. Animals can quickly climb trees, tenacious paws with long claws help. The raccoon is resistant to viruses, and the dense skin and fur protect against insect bites.

When danger is brewing, the furry beast shows dexterity, he flees or pretends to be dead. The striped raccoon is a nocturnal mammal, it sees in the dark, vibrissae help to navigate. During the day, the predator sleeps in a hollow or climbs into someone else's hole. The striped raccoon can climb trees, climbing to the tops, likes to perform acrobatic stunts on branches, jumping upside down even from a height of 12 meters.

Why is a raccoon called a raccoon

The name of the beast from Sanskrit is translated as “Scratching with its own hands”, but the prefix “poloskan” has not just been attached to the species. They dip pieces of food into the water, moving their paws, it seems that the beast is washing clothes. The reflex is not related to the desire to consume clean food. The behavior is explained by the fact that an omnivorous animal in the wild catches prey in the water, sorting through mud and algae with nimble paws. This is a nocturnal animal, the sense of touch helps to search for food, the search for food is by touch.

What do raccoons eat

The fluffy animal is omnivorous: it prefers animal and vegetable food. In spring and summer, small rodents and beetles become prey. Deftly climbing trees, they rob nests, eating chicks and eggs. Animals can eat a medium-sized snake, they will not give up chickens. Crayfish and frogs are also included in the diet, if you can catch it. The mammal lowers its paws into the water and begins to "scan" the bottom of the reservoir.

Having stumbled upon the treasured prey, the "hunter" grabs it and begins to rinse. If a cancer is caught, then it splits it: it hits the stones, and then puts it in the water to determine if the prey is alive. In autumn, the animals eat nuts, berries, and love acorns. Stripes are arrogant animals, they can climb inside a person’s house and eat supplies. Animals do not disdain garbage, for this they rummage in garbage cans.

Reproduction and education of offspring

Females reach puberty by the year, males need more time, they become fathers by two years. The mating season falls on the cold. Males try to fertilize as many females as they are polygamous. Pregnancy lasts 9 weeks, 3-4 cubs are born at a time. The first time after birth, the puppies are helpless and blind, it takes them several weeks to become independent, then they stop feeding on their mother's milk.

It has become fashionable to have exotic and wild animals. The raccoon often appears in ordinary apartments, replacing the dog and delighting people with his direct behavior. You can keep the animal at home, but you must be prepared for the appearance of a predator. Having decided to acquire an unusual family member, study the nature of the animal, the requirements for nutrition and maintenance, and evaluate your readiness for such a step.

How to furnish a home

A fluffy pet needs its own space, and it needs to create conditions, equip a home. The cage should be tall and spacious. The pet will not like a small and cramped house, the mood of the animal may deteriorate, up to the manifestation of aggression. Housing should be on several floors, each tier is filled with toys or swings. Make your bed soft. It is also necessary to create an improvised hollow from driftwood, where the beast will hide.

Place the cage in a bright room, but not on the balcony, so that the animal does not die from the heat. Attributes for the house: a container for food, a drinking bowl and a basin of water where the pet will rinse its food. It is better to give rubber toys, because he will “bath” them in a basin. In the cage, you will have to lock the animal at night, as it becomes active. During the day, the pet can freely roam around the apartment. If he lives in a private house, then the aviary can be built on the street.

How to feed a raccoon-poloskuna at home

Since the beast is omnivorous, the diet should be varied and include: dairy products (cottage cheese), meat, fish, seafood, eggs, cereals, vegetables and fruits, nuts, berries (raspberries, currants, cherries, strawberries), even cookies. Natural homemade food is preferable, but ready-made granules should not be excluded if the animal lacks vitamins and minerals. Suitable for both dog and cat food. The fluffy animal eats 3-4 times a day.

Animal care

These are unpretentious animals that do not require special care. They need to be fed regularly, occasionally bathed, periodically walked. They are clean, they take care of their hair, so you need to bathe the animal 2-3 times a year. You can use shampoo for cats or dogs. Often you will have to clean inside the cage. Raccoons love walks, but walk him only on a leash, otherwise he will run away. There are a number of rules for care:

Stripes are funny and funny, but do not be deceived, they always remain predators. Playing with furry pets can result in scratches or bites. The beast attacks not because of aggressiveness, but when playing, because he does not perceive a person as a master, so it is important to be careful. During the mating season, the animal can become unsociable, even aggressive.

A wild beast is practically impossible to train, it is difficult to make him do something, only if he himself does not show curiosity and is not interested in the task at hand. Get ready that raccoons may not get along with other pets. Raccoons can still get used to having a cat or a dog at home, but a parrot or a guinea pig will become prey, the gargle will find an opportunity to get to the victim.

Poloskun is clean and prefers to relieve himself in a tray, but during the mating season he is ready to mark the territory everywhere, which will add trouble to the hostess. A night dweller will wake up the owner for any reason, so during the day a fluffy pet must be exhausted with games. The raccoon is very restless, so it is better to look after him. He is always ready to make a mess and even ruin things, he will find many exciting activities: he can open the taps and start washing equipment or documents, while flooding his neighbors, he is ready to ruin furniture, break dishes, tear off wallpaper.

Where could I buy

There are nuances when buying an exotic animal. It is important not to purchase an animal “kidnapped” by poachers from the wild; up to a month and a half, puppies need mother's milk, without which they will die. There is also a chance to get a sick little animal or not a gargle, but a raccoon dog. In order not to be deceived, it is better to purchase a puppy in a kennel (there are guarantees to get a healthy animal), or require all documents for an individual from a private seller. Special nurseries breed black-silver, gray-silver and white breeds.

How much does a raccoon cost

The sale of animals is carried out by both dealers and nurseries. On the market, a puppy costs 5,000-10,000 rubles, but there is a chance to get a sick and aggressive animal; in a pet store or nursery, the price for a puppy varies from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles. Individuals of black and silver color are more expensive.

Photo of a raccoon

Video

raccoon habitat

The homeland for the raccoon is Central and North America (it is also called the American raccoon). However, today, this wonderful animal can be found in many areas of the globe, namely: in Asia, Europe and even in the Far East of Russia. Why did the striped raccoon even move to another continent?

And it's all thanks to his charm. Tourists cannot resist the cute face of the animal and therefore often take it out with them. Their most interesting colors and these cute paws will not leave anyone indifferent.

It is not difficult for a raccoon to adapt and get along in any area, so we can meet these amazing animals not only in large cities, but also in villages. The favorite places for the striped raccoon are places located near forests, rivers, reservoirs and characterized by a mild climate.

Doesn't its appearance contribute to the name of the animal?

The raccoon has a wide head, a sharp muzzle, as well as thick, long and very warm fur, and the soles of the raccoon's paws are not covered with hair. Although the color of the raccoon's coat resembles a series of " stripes"White, yellow and black tones, but, nevertheless, this has nothing to do with the nickname of the animal -" striped ".

But the fact that a raccoon is called a raccoon, the animal just owes its external data. Namely: paws similar to small hands with long sharp claws. The name - raccoon - was originally literally and deciphered as "an animal that scratches with its paws."

Why is the raccoon called the raccoon?

All raccoons differ in one characteristic feature: while hunting for shallow water (raccoons especially love crayfish), they feel with their paws the bottom of the reservoirs in search of food, from the side it seems that the animal is not looking for food, but simply rinsed in water. However, if raccoons find something edible on land (for example, berries or fruits), they still carry everything to the water to rinse thoroughly. If there are no water bodies nearby, the animals wipe their prey with their paws, thus replacing the rinsing process.

The animals will perform this "rite" even with completely clean products. At the same time, neat pedants will not disdain to stick their curious nose into the nearest trash can in search of food.

Female raccoons quite often rinse in the water, not only the future dinner, but also their cubs, and the rinsing process can sometimes last about an hour, because of which they even sometimes die, choking on water.