If you’re looking for a pet raccoon for your children, you may be wondering how long do raccoons live? The answer depends on what you want to achieve from your raccoon. Raccoons can live up to several years, and they can learn a lot during their lives. One of the most common types of mammals, raccoons are known for their mask-like fur on their face and can run as fast as 15 miles per hour. They also have unique vocalizations and can even mimic the sounds of a human voice, such as whistling, grunting, and snoring.
While raccoons in the wild often live five to ten years, their lifespan in captivity is considerably longer. They face many natural predators, disease, and malnourishment that can greatly shorten their lives. In fact, the oldest raccoon in a zoo is called Merlin, and is licensed by the Zoological Association of Canada and the United States. Although raccoons are typically known to have a short lifespan in the wild, they are capable of living a decade or more in captivity.
In captivity, raccoons can be incredibly resourceful animals. While it may be tempting to feed your pet a raccoon’s leftovers, remember that many raccoons do not behave in the manner you might expect them to. In fact, some raccoons are so resourceful that they often suffocate their food before eating it. In captivity, the animal will often douse its food before it’s ingested.
Raccoons are largely solitary animals. While they will sometimes want to play with children and be cuddled, they generally require a full room indoors or an outdoor enclosure. Raccoons need bedding, toys, and a place to explore. If you plan to raise a raccoon as a pet, you should prepare for a lifetime of care.
When raised in captivity, raccoons form close bonds with humans and are playful and cuddly. However, raccoons can bite people or other pets if they become irritated. They need a lot of space and care, so they are not good pets for children or a small family. But if you are lucky enough to own one, raccoons can make wonderful pets.
Male and female raccoons mate in the late winter and early spring. A typical mating season is from January to March and can last until June. Incubation lasts for about 63 to 65 days and the female gives birth to between two and five kits. The young are most vulnerable to predators during their first year, when they are unable to travel and mate.
In captivity, raccoons are not sterilized. While it may seem tempting to sterilize them, this practice can lead to unwanted consequences. Some raccoons might escape and cause significant damage to your house or property, and you won’t want to take a chance on that. If you’re worried about the damage a raccoon can do, you should call a wildlife rehabilitation center. They can help save the raccoon babies and give you the peace of mind to leave them alone.
