If you have ever wondered how many babies raccoons have, you are not alone. The species is notoriously solitary. While most raccoons will stick together with their mother and siblings as babies, they usually will not survive on their own. Female raccoons typically give birth to two to six babies per litter, and they can be sexually mature between 11 and 16 months. However, the first time you see a baby raccoon, you may be able to recognize it immediately.
If you see a nest, you may wonder how many babies a raccoon typically has. Female raccoons usually have litters of between two to five babies, with each litter consisting of one to four raccoons. The babies are born at about six weeks old and begin walking around at about six months. Raccoons will patrol their dens, but you may not be able to see them, so you should call animal control or a wildlife professional to help you.
Raccoons generally have one litter per year, and their breeding season usually begins in late winter. The young are born between the months of March and April. Depending on their location, raccoons may give birth at any time of year. If you have an adult raccoon, he or she may give birth to several litters a year. Raccoons typically give birth to two to five young in a litter, and it is not unusual for a single litter to be up to six.
When pregnant, raccoons seek out a dark, safe location to erect their nests. Luckily, homes provide the perfect habitat for them to do so. Mothers also look for a safe place to rest and feed their newborns, so keeping a raccoon is a rewarding experience. But beware, raccoons are wild animals and they can be unpredictable.
Mother raccoons are usually very protective of their newborns. If you approach a raccoon in the attic, the mother will most likely scratch you or bite you, but don’t move the mother! You can try to drive them away by making loud noises or shining bright lights. You should also be careful not to approach them until they are older, because they may be afraid of humans.
The young raccoons are dependent on their mother for three months after birth. Although they are not bonded, male raccoons will return to their dens after mating, so don’t expect to see them in your home until they’ve reached the age of three months. Even then, their babies will be completely dependent on the mother. However, many young raccoons stay with their mother for up to a year, and then begin to move out on their own.
The timing of raccoon breeding depends on the area. In the north, the mating season begins in January and extends to July. The peak breeding season, though, occurs in February and April. Female raccoons give birth to one litter a year, and they will typically give birth to three to five babies. The gestation period is 65 to 67 days and the babies can be born in March to May.
