Trash Pandas, Treasure Cats, whatever you want to call them, there’s no denying that raccoons can be trouble. With people encroaching further into their habitat, they have adapted to living right next to us. Even when they’re getting into our trash, these fuzzy bandits are pretty cute. Their hijinks are often a family activity since baby raccoons stay with their mother and siblings for an extended period. Here are some interesting facts about baby raccoons to keep in mind, the next time you see a group of them out and about.
26 Interesting facts about baby raccoons
1 They stay with their mother for around a year
Even after they are weaned, baby raccoons stay within their family unit of mother and siblings, for about a year. The mother will spend this time teaching her kits to hunt and forage. Young raccoons will frequently make their dens fairly close to their mothers. Some young females will even continue to share a den with mom.
2 Baby raccoons are born in early summer
If it seems like raccoon activity in your neighborhood increases in the late summer and early fall, you aren’t wrong. Raccoons give birth in late spring or early summer to an average of 4 kits. At around 12 weeks of age, the young raccoons will start to roam, and practice their foraging skills.
3 Raccoons follow their mothers in a straight line
Like ducklings, baby raccoons follow their mother in a single file line when out and about. A group of raccoons out and about with their mother is referred to as a nursery.
4 Baby raccoons are born blind and helpless
Baby raccoons are born blind and completely dependent on their mothers. They are unable to stand until around 5 weeks of age and do not wean until 8-12 weeks old. At about 10 weeks they will start going out with their mother and learning the skills they need to survive.
5 Raccoons do not become nocturnal until they turn about a year old
Raccoons are generally nocturnal animals, but it is not a red flag if you see them out and about during the day. They will change den locations and occasionally forage in daylight. Baby raccoon s in particulate are active during daylight hours. They may be out playing near their den while their mother catches up on her sleep. As they grow older, they will make a shift to being more active at night.
6 Young males form “bachelor groups”
Though they eventually leave their family, young males who have recently left home will occasionally form small groups. Raccoons have a loose social structure. They form overlapping territories, socialize with each other, and will occasionally form small groups. They frequently share their dens with other raccoons, even non-relatives.
7 Raccoons are not born with a mask
Raccoons are born much lighter then they will be once they reach adulthood. They will not develop their markings, in particular their distinctive masks, until they reach around 10 weeks old. The darker color will slowly appear as they mature.
8 Baby Raccoons can hunt at 5 months old
Raccoons have a reputation for scavenging and eating trash. Away from an urban setting, they are opportunistic omnivores who are also capable hunters. By 5 months of age, a juvenile raccoon is capable of catching small prey such as rodents and birds.
9 A lone baby may not be an orphan
Baby raccoons are cute and relatively helpless. Many well-meaning people have inadvertently separated a young raccoon from its family thinking they have found an orphan. Mother raccoons will change dens, moving her babies from their birth den to a new location. Occasionally juveniles may be separated from their families by a barking dog, or just by wandering too far from the group. Before assuming a young raccoon needs to be rescued, note a few things. Does it appear dehydrated and in distress? Is it ungroomed and covered with fleas? Is it following people? If the answer to this is yes, then you may have an orphan.
10 Baby raccoons are very vocal
Baby raccoons are not afraid to use their voices. They will growl, hiss, and have an alarm snort.
11 They will grow whiskers on their toes
Raccoons are known for their ability to get pat “raccoon-proof” contraptions and their dextrous fingers. Part of this dexterity comes from the whiskers they grow on their toes. By the time baby raccoons are able to hunt and forage while supervised, they will have grown whiskers on their front feet, that make their nimble paws even more sensitive.
12 Female raccoons mature faster than male raccoons
By the time they are ready to leave the den and live on their own, female raccoons are sexually mature and capable of reproduction. Male raccoons will not reach sexual maturity until they reach two years of age.
13 Orphaned babies can be returned to the wild
The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to be able to release animals back into the wild. With orphaned raccoons, the goal is to release them by the time they are 16-24 weeks of age. If they are released by this age they will be able to readapt and learn the survival skills they will need to survive.
14 Baby raccoons can climb before they can walk well
Even before they are confident on the ground, baby raccoons develop strong front limbs that allow them to climb. This ability helps them escape predators and explore their surroundings while staying near their den. You might see young raccoons clinging to tree trunks or fence posts long before they can run efficiently.
15 They recognize their mother’s voice
Raccoon kits rely on vocal cues to stay connected with their mother. From an early age, they can distinguish her unique calls from those of other raccoons. This helps them find their way back to her even in the dark or when hiding in dense foliage.
16 Nursing lasts longer than in many other mammals their size
Unlike some small mammals that wean in just a few weeks, baby raccoons nurse for up to 12 weeks. This extended nursing period helps them build strength and develop the skills needed for survival before transitioning fully to solid food.
17 Young raccoons play fight to learn survival skills
Raccoon kits often wrestle, chase, and pounce on each other in a playful manner. While it may look like fun, these activities help them build coordination, develop muscle strength, and practice defensive behaviors they’ll need as adults.
18 Their sense of touch is more important than their eyesight
A raccoon’s most important sense isn’t its vision—it’s touch. Even as babies, they explore the world primarily with their highly sensitive front paws, which have more nerve endings than a human hand. This heightened sense of touch allows them to locate food and navigate their environment, even in total darkness.
19 Baby raccoons sometimes suck on their thumbs
Like human infants, young raccoons have been observed sucking on their thumbs or fingers for comfort. This behavior is most common while they are still nursing and provides a sense of security when their mother isn’t nearby.
20 They have a special purring sound for their mother
Baby raccoons communicate with their mother using a variety of sounds, including a soft purring or chittering noise. This sound indicates contentment and helps reassure the mother that her kits are safe.
21 Young raccoons can swim at an early age
Although raccoons are not born natural swimmers, they learn quickly by watching their mother. By the time they are a few months old, they can paddle efficiently and use water to escape threats or search for food.
22 They instinctively “wash” objects in water
Even at a young age, raccoons exhibit a fascinating behavior known as “dousing,” where they dip food or objects in water before eating. While scientists aren’t entirely sure why they do this, some believe it enhances their sense of touch, helping them better understand what they’re handling.
23 Each baby raccoon has a unique scent
Mother raccoons can identify their kits by smell alone. Each baby has a slightly different scent, allowing the mother to recognize and locate her young even in a crowded den or among other raccoons.
24 They can problem-solve from an early age
Raccoons are known for their intelligence, and this trait is evident even in young kits. They quickly learn how to open latches, untie knots, and navigate obstacles—all skills that help them survive in the wild.
25 Juvenile raccoons start marking their territory early
As baby raccoons begin venturing out on their own, they instinctively rub their scent on objects to mark familiar areas. This behavior helps them establish a sense of security as they prepare for independence.
26 They use a variety of sounds to communicate
In addition to hissing and growling, baby raccoons make chattering, trilling, and whimpering noises to express different emotions. They use these vocalizations to communicate with their mother and siblings, signaling everything from hunger to distress.
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