MadSci Network: Zoology
Query:

Re: Are racoons indiginous to the Central Colo. rockies at 8000' elevation?

Date: Mon Jul 17 12:42:55 2000
Posted By: Janet Hoff, Staff, Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan
Area of science: Zoology
ID: 962561661.Zo
Message:

Man has moved many types of plants and animals around the world by chance and intentionally, introducing new species of animals to new environments again and again. Most species adapt well, others don't survive, while others flurish and may even illiminate a native species. The racoon adapts readily to new environments. Where do raccoons live (their habitat)? In the wild, raccoons are found across most of North America. They inhabit wetlands, plains and, primarily, forests. However, as civilization moves in on them and destroys their habitats, raccoons adapt quite well to living in urban areas and are among the most common wildlife species found in cities and towns. Their ideal habitat would be heavily wooded areas with a mixture of evergreen and hardwood trees in various stages of growth, with rivers, streams or lakes. Bottomland hardwoods provide hard mast, insects, and aquatic animal life. Fields and open areas yield fruit, berries, insects, and occasional small mammals and reptiles. Raccoons depend on wetland and aquatic habitats for a large portion of their food (frogs, crayfish, turtles and insects that live in the water) and are seldom found far from water. Raccoons sometimes prey upon the nests of ground-nesting birds such as ducks and pheasants, and on the nests of cavity nesting birds such as bluebirds. However, predation is among the checks and balances of nature. (Just like raptors and certain larger carnivores prey on young raccoons.) Severe predation is usually a symptom of other problems, such as a lack of suitable nesting habitat. Tip: When you release raccoons, it is imperative to find a place where there is plenty of water, no hunting, and if the raccoons have not become totally self-sufficient, people willing to feed them (by replenishing feeding stations) until they can find their own food. I use crickets and minnows to help train my rehabs in hunting and fishing skills. And I have two female cockatiels either of which will inevitably lay a clutch of unfertile eggs sometime during the raccoon rehabs time with me. A delicacy for the raccoons, the eggs also helps prepare them for the day they will be on their own. My raccoons spend time in the woods around my home becoming self-sufficient prior to their final release. Raccoons do not construct their own den sites, but rely on natural processes or the work of other animals. Raccoons usually den in hollow trees, rock crevices, and ground dens. Both ground dens and cavity trees are used for shelter and escape, but den trees are preferred for raising young. Active den trees can be identified by claw marks or worn bark. Dens are usually located just below or within the tree canopy. Preferred cavities have 4 to 10 inch openings, are at least 15 feet from the ground, and are sheltered from rain and prevailing winds. Suitable ground dens include abandoned buildings, car bodies, wood or brush piles, hay stacks, rock crevices, and abandoned dens or burrows of badgers, beavers, coyotes, woodchucks or foxes. Both ground dens and cavity trees are used for shelter and escape. Tip: You can help wild raccoons by preserving cavity trees and other suitable den sites. Your attic is NOT a suitable den site and is discussed further below. This information was copied from www.racoon.com I could not find anything spacifically about racoons living in the Colorado Mountians, but looking at the state parks in mountian areas, it looks like racoons are frequent guests to campers. I hope this helps to answer your quesiton.


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