Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Raccoon. Photo:Mont St-Hilaire Nature Center

The raccoon is a common inhabitant of the forests of the Maritime provinces, southern Quebec, Ontario, central and western Canada. Raccoons prefer to roam forested areas near water courses. Recently raccoons have become somewhat of a pest species due to their tendency to plunder garbage cans in suburban areas. Raccoons are very intelligent animals which posses the uncanny ability to undo various security devices with the aid of their 'opposable thumb'. This extra digit allows them greater manual dexterity than most other animals and allows them to better manipulate any object. Raccoons have been known to be able release them selves from traps and to remove bait from the traps without being captured. Raccoons are omnivorous and will eat plant material if present as well as meat. They have been called living trash cans of nature as they will eat anything and everything placed before them.

Distribution of Raccoon in Canada