Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Size:

• Body length: 60–70 cm (tail: 20–25 cm)
• Weight: 4–12 kg, depending on the season and food availability (males usually heavier than females)

Look:

• Grey-brown to silver-grey fur
• Characteristic black eye mask (“Zorro mask”)
• Tail with 4–10 black rings
• Agile front paws – almost like hands
• Powerful hind legs, good climber

Way of life:

• Nocturnal, curious, quick learner
• Good climbers and swimmers
• They do not hibernate, but they do enter a state of winter dormancy.
• Communication via sounds, scents, and body posture

Reproduction:

• Mating: February–April
• Birth: April–May
• Litter size: 2–5 young
• Raised by mother, independent at approximately 4 months.

Nest locations:

• Attics, chimneys, barns
• Cavities in trees or buildings
• Under terraces, in garden sheds

Nutrition:

• Omnivore
• Main food: Fruits, insects, eggs, small mammals, carrion
• Rummages through garbage cans, eats pet food

Behave:

• Habituation to humans in populated areas
• It defends young animals when threatened.
• They erected so-called latrine sites for excrement – a hygiene problem.
• Return behavior: repeated use of the same hiding place

Building damage:

• Insulation material, cables, and insulation are destroyed.
• Scratch and bite marks in attics and walls
• Noise pollution from nighttime activity
• Feces and urine cause odor nuisance and material damage.

Hygiene problems:

• Feces, urine, and prey remains in buildings can cause disease and odor problems.
• Transmission of roundworms (Baylisascaris procyonis) is possible.
• Contamination from foraging in garbage or animal feed

Disease transmission:

• Rabies (USA: documented – Europe: rare so far)
• Leptospirosis
• Salmonella
• Roundworms (high risk for children if they come into contact with latrines)
• Parasites such as ticks, fleas, mites

Building:

• Seal roof openings, ventilation grilles and ridges
• Block access to attics with sheet metal or grilles.
• Chimneys fitted with protective caps

Outdoor areas:

• Close the garbage cans
• Do not leave food scraps or pet food outside.
• Cover fallen fruit and compost
• Remove bird feeders at night

Behave:

• No feeding – not even “indirectly”
• Clean latrine areas (only with protective equipment)
• In case of infestation: do not attempt to remove the disease yourself – risk of disease transmission and recurrence.