How old do raccoons live? Raccoons are mammals and the answer to this question will vary based on the type of species you are considering. Unlike other mammals, raccoons do not typically produce many young at once, and their gestation period is about 63 days. Mothers with cubs enjoy a privileged position in the raccoon hierarchy. Other raccoons defer to the mother with cubs in feeding situations. This privileged status will remain for as long as the cubs stay with the mother. Northern raccoons will keep their babies for nearly a year, and southern raccoons may let them go to their denning areas in the fall. During denning times, however, they will return together with the mother and cubs.
Raccoons have a short life expectancy, and most do not live much longer than five or six years. Because they are so common in humans’ urban areas, it’s not surprising that raccoons do not live as long as they once did. Unfortunately, human interference has led to many premature deaths of raccoons. Human-caused car accidents are a regular cause of their deaths, and they also face threats from other predators, such as coyotes, bobcats, and wolves. Despite the short lifespan, raccoons need veterinary care to survive, and the life expectancy of raccoons is shortened dramatically due to the human interference with their natural habitats.
Raccoons usually mate between February and March and gestation is around two months. The female raccoon produces a litter of two to seven kits. Kits are born with no eyes, teeth, and fur pattern, but these traits will develop within a few weeks. The average lifespan of a raccoon is only about two to three years, but they can live up to 20 years in captivity.
Raccoons live in many different environments, including suburban and rural areas. They have a nocturnal lifestyle, but they also have a highly social and matriarchal family structure. These animals are highly intelligent despite their small brain size and are rated as some of the most intelligent mammal species. In fact, they are among the most intelligent of all animals, with a median brain size of 438 million neurons.
Although raccoons are not typically aggressive animals, they can become violent when threatened. They can cause considerable damage if left alone and unattended. If you encounter a raccoon in your attic or chimney, educating them about their habitat is a great way to stop the problem before it escalates to the point of killing the animal. The following tips may help you keep raccoons away without killing them.
Raccoons are not territorial. They prefer forested areas and water, although they will sometimes make their home in cities. These animals travel through sewers and storm drains to find food. Their lifespan is approximately eight to ten years, and their population density varies from city to city. It is not uncommon to find raccoons as far north as Alaska. It all depends on the type of environment.
