The reality is that raccoons can be active at various times of day and that all raccoons are potential carriers of rabies. There’s an urban legend that raccoons only come out during the day when they’re infected with rabies, and that day-active raccoons are therefore especially dangerous. If more food is available during the day, raccoons can adjust their sleep schedule. Raccoons are mostly nocturnal, but they’re flexible in this as in everything else. Raccoons are capable climbers, and will seek safety in the branches of a tree if threatened. In the Florida Keys, local raccoons are barely bigger than kittens, averaging 4-6 pounds as adults. Raccoons vary in size from 10 pounds to over 50 pounds, largely based on where they live and how much food is available. The raccoon’s name comes from the Powhatan language and means “he scratches with his hands.” It’s not for nothing that the raccoon has a reputation for breaking into dumpsters and stealing people’s trash. And because they’ll eat just about anything, they can live very well in close proximity with humans. Raccoons can thrive in almost any environment: swamps or deserts, sweltering jungles or frozen tundra. Stealthy, clever, and adaptable, the raccoon ( Procyon lotor)–also known as the “common raccoon” to distinguish it from other raccoon-like animals–is an emblem of backyard biodiversity across North America.
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