Raccoons - Pictures

Raccoons - Reproduction

Male Raccoons mate with a few females. Meanwhile, females are monogamous and tend to be aggressive towards other males after the mating has taken place. As a rule, females reach sexual maturity in their first year and start breeding that same year. Males, however, do not start mating until their second year, although they are sexually mature by the age of one year. This is due to a high competition rate from other adult males.

The gestation period is about 63 days. Litter sizes vary from one area to another. In northern habitats, Raccoons tend to have large litters. They give birth to 3-7 young. Southern Raccoons have litters that count about 2-3 young.

Raccoons - Life Cycle

Male Raccoons do not take part in rearing the young. The juvenile Raccoon stays inside the den for about 8 weeks. Then they start foraging with their mother and appear to be fully weaned by the age of two months. Raccoons are active during the night. A female teaches the young to climb trees, swim, and hunt. After a female has a new litter, her offspring from the previous year is left to find its own home range. Female Raccoons are known to settle near their mother's home range.

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