Raccoons have different stages of growth and leave their mothers at different ages. They start leaving the den at about eight weeks, and can remain with their mother for months. However, some raccoons remain with their mom until the spring. Raccoons are night-time nocturnal animals, so it is essential to find a mother within a reasonable distance from her young. Mothers can leave for hours or even days, but they always come back to their young.
The raccoon’s gestation period is 63-65 days, so young raccoons are born in the spring and early summer. Raccoons have one litter per year. The gestation period is about sixty-five days, and the babies usually weigh about 1.5 pounds. Newborn raccoons are dependent on their mother’s milk for nutrition for the first few weeks. They can walk and stand but are not fully developed yet. Young raccoons can follow their mother to new territory and may stay with her until the following spring. Because raccoons are nocturnal, they leave after dark, so it is important to make sure you know how old your raccoon is before attempting to catch them.
Raccoons give birth to their young in late March or early April, and the first few weeks of their life are spent in the den. Their babies are usually born in voids or attics, where their mother will be able to provide warmth and food. In this period, a raccoon can be found with up to six young. It is best to keep raccoons in a litter of three to six instead of raising a single kit.
When a baby raccoon begins nursing, it may need a little encouragement. Massage its back to encourage a sucking response. You can also offer to help the baby with nursing by feeding it with food. A 10-cc syringe is ideal. If you cannot find one at a pet store, you can purchase a syringe at your local pet supply store.
Baby raccoons weigh two to seven ounces when they are born, and they’re about half a foot long. By three months of age, raccoons have the ability to stand on their own. During the first two months, mothers teach the young to hunt for food by accompanying them on their first foraging trip. Once a baby raccoon is three months old, they should start eating the same foods as adult raccoons.
A single baby raccoon, or orphan, needs loving care. It’s very important to keep the new orphan’s mother and siblings close by, because their psychological health is based on this interaction. If you have an orphaned raccoon, contact your local humane society, animal rescue groups, or a veterinarian. Be sure to quarantine the baby for at least two weeks before releasing it. Young raccoons are very social animals and are often sociable. They’re happy to have other baby raccoons around, especially those of similar ages.
If you have a raccoon baby, it’s a good idea to provide clean water for them. However, keep in mind that they can pee and poop in their water bowl, so you’ll need to provide a clean container for them to drink. Raccoons can be trained to use kitty litter or sand as their litter. Once they’re 10 weeks old, they can venture out of the den and go on foraging rounds.
