There are several factors that determine how long raccoons live, including their climate, disease rates, and natural predators. Whether or not raccoons live to adulthood depends on the factors, but they typically live for three to ten years. During extreme cold temperatures, raccoons can die. If their den is too cold, they can share it with other animals to produce heat. During times of extreme cold, raccoons may even starve to death.
The average raccoon lives for approximately 20 years in captivity and around seven years in the wild. Although they are a popular pet choice, raccoons don’t live as long as dogs. Their long lifespan is attributed in part to human activity, but this doesn’t mean they are less valuable than a dog or cat. Whether you want to keep a pet raccoon for years, or bring him home in a cage, knowing more about this animal can make the experience more bearable.
Raccoons don’t hibernate, but they do spend time in harsh winter climates. They don’t hibernate, but they do spend time in their dens to build up body fat. In colder weather, raccoons may sleep for up to two weeks. After sundown, they will start searching for food. The time of year also plays a role in their sleep habits. They are most active at the end of the summer, but they tend to sleep more during winter.
In general, raccoons are short-lived creatures. Adult raccoons have little to no natural predators, but males do have other animals in their territory. Besides humans, large mammals in the woods where raccoons live are likely to kill their young. However, smaller animals, such as bobcats, owls, and hawks, kill raccoons during their development.
While raccoons share a similar lifespan as their female counterparts, male raccoons have a shorter lifespan. Male raccoons often live in solitary dens and forage for food in the wild without the help of their female counterparts. This makes male raccoons more vulnerable to predators and threats. They can live anywhere from nine to thirty years.
Disease and parasites are two other important factors that may cause a raccoon to die sooner than expected. Raccoons are prone to infections such as Baylisascarisprocyonis and giardia, and are known to get into scraps with cats. In addition, they may sometimes prey on small animals, such as chickens and rabbits that are kept outdoors. Occasionally, they prey on cats and kittens.
Raccoons can live anywhere from six to ten years, though they do not live for long in captivity. They are omnivorous and will eat plants, meat, and insects. Raccoons do best in damp areas, such as farmland, urban areas, and even homes. In the wild, however, raccoons typically only live for five to six years.
