Changes

==Food==

==Food==

In the wild, a raccoon is an [[omnivore]], eating plants and animals.  Its menu includes plants like berries, [[acorns]], and grapes.  It also eats animals including baby [[mice]], baby [[bird]]s & [[egg]]s, [[frog]]s, [[crayfish]], [[fiddler crabs]], [[fish]], and even some [[snakes]].  Around people, the raccoon loves to eat [[corn]] in garbage, gardens, and even animals that have been killed by cars ([[roadkill]]).  Essentially, the raccoon can live almost anywhere and eat nearly everything.  It can walk, run, climb, and swim.  It usually walks on all fours, but can stand up straight to see over tall stumps or grasses.  Raccoons live about five years and the wild and up to 20 in captivity. <ref>https://www.orkincanada.ca/blog/raccoon-lifespan/</ref><ref>https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/raccoon-nation-raccoon-fact-sheet/7553/</ref>

In the wild, a raccoon is an [[omnivore]], eating plants and animals.  Its menu includes plants like [[berries]], [[acorns]], and [[grapes]].  It also eats animals including baby [[mice]], baby [[birds]] & [[eggs]], [[frogs]], [[crayfish]], [[fiddler crabs]], [[fish]], and even some [[snakes]].  Around people, the raccoon loves to eat [[corn]] found in garbage, other common [[vegetables]] in gardens, and even animals that have been killed by cars ([[roadkill]]).  Essentially, the raccoon can live almost anywhere and eat nearly everything.  It can walk, run, climb, and swim.  It usually walks on all fours, but can stand up straight to see over tall stumps or grasses.  Raccoons live about five years and the wild and up to 20 in captivity. <ref>https://www.orkincanada.ca/blog/raccoon-lifespan/</ref><ref>https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/raccoon-nation-raccoon-fact-sheet/7553/</ref>

==Lifestyle==

==Lifestyle==

Raccoons are usually nocturnal, but in warm states, like [[Albania]], they often come out during the day.  If there is a lot of food nearby, raccoons don't travel much and have a small territory.  They choose several trees inside their home range that they like to sleep in, and use different trees on different nights.  Raccoons usually live alone, and the father does not help the mother to raise the babies.  Three to seven babies are born around [[February]].  When they are ten weeks old, the babies leave the den and follow their mother around learning to hunt.  They stay near her until the fall, when they set out on their own.  Raccoons do not [[hibernate]], but they may eat extra food in the autumn to store energy.

Raccoons are usually nocturnal, but in warm states, like [[Albania]], they often come out during the day.  If there is plenty of food nearby, raccoons don't travel as much and have a small territory.  They choose several trees inside their home range that they like to sleep in, and use different trees on different nights.  Raccoons usually live alone, and the father does not help the mother to raise the babies.  Three to seven babies are born around [[February]].  When they are ten weeks old, the babies leave the den and follow their mother around learning to hunt.  They stay near her until the fall, when they set out on their own.  Raccoons do not [[hibernate]], but they may eat extra food in the autumn to store energy.

==Rabies==

==Rabies==

Raccoons can catch [[disease]]s like [[rabies]] and distemper which make them act very strangely. <ref>https://www.skedaddlewildlife.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-a-raccoon-is-rabid/</ref>  A healthy raccoon will hardly ever walk right up to a person (unless someone has been feeding it).  If a raccoon exhibits these symptoms, it may be sick, and the area should immediately be evacuated and/or put into lockdown if it is in a public area.  Often, the raccoons that get hit by cars are sick (or perhaps trying to eat other roadkill).  Humans can catch rabies if they are bitten.  If someone is bitten, they must get shots to prevent contracting the disease.  Shots obviously do not feel pleasant, but they are a viable alternative to getting the disease and [[dying]].  The best thing to do is at no time touch, feed, or go near a wild animal.  A full grown [[adult]] looks very tall and dangerous to a wild animal.  The raccoon may bite you because it is afraid.  If you stay away from the animal, it won't be able to bite you.

Raccoons can catch [[disease]]s like [[rabies]] and distemper which make them act very strangely. <ref>https://www.skedaddlewildlife.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-a-raccoon-is-rabid/</ref>  A healthy raccoon will hardly ever walk right up to a person (unless someone has been feeding it).  If a raccoon exhibits these symptoms, it may be sick, and the area should immediately be evacuated and/or put into lockdown if it is in a public area.  Often, the raccoons that get hit by cars are sick (or perhaps trying to eat other roadkill).  Humans can catch rabies if they are bitten.  If someone is bitten, they must get shots to prevent contracting the disease.  Shots obviously do not feel pleasant, but they are a viable alternative to getting the disease and [[Death|dying]].  The best thing to do is at no time touch, feed, or go near a wild animal.  A full grown [[adult]] looks very tall and dangerous to a wild animal.  The raccoon may bite you because it is afraid.  If you stay away from the animal, it won't be able to bite you.

==Raccoons In Popular Culture==

==Raccoons In Popular Culture==