Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora 

Family: Procyonidae

Genus: Procyon

Species: Procyon lotor

Physical description:

Raccoons are furry animals with a bushy striped tail and an iconic "bandit's mask" pattern around its eyes. 

Raccoons thrive in temperate forests abundant with water, marshes and oak trees. They live amongst alligators, coyotes, panthers, wolves, hawks, owls and eagles.

Raccoons can be found in North and Central America as well as Europe and Japan. The raccoon is native to North and Central America and is on the invasive species list in Europe 

Raccoons eat fruits, insects, worms, nuts, small mammals and fish. Raccoons usually eat at night but sometimes they eat in the early morning hours. They get their food by looking for plants and nuts. Raccoons don't eat any special foods but they do wet the food before they eat it. 

Related female raccoons occasionally share the same feeding and resting ground. Males during mating season form groups to protect against invaders. Social groups usually have no more than four members. 

Raccoons mate once a year between late January to mid March. Female raccoons only have one mate per season while males could have multiple. Male raccoons will spend three to four days engaging in foreplay before mating. Raccoons usually give birth to two to five kits (babies). 

Stages of development:

• birth

• adolescence

• adulthood

Raccoons usually reach sexual maturity after one year. During adolescence they will stay around the den or with their mother. Male raccoons do not take care of the offspring. 

Raccoon have predators such as alligators, coyotes, panthers, wolves, hawks, owls and eagles. Male raccoons usually stay in loose groups during mating season there is probably conflicts when it coming to finding a mate. Raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies. Due to the fact that raccoons also inhabit urban areas they are also killed by vehicles and heavy machinery.

Male raccoons occasionally compete with other males for mates. Though raccoons don't usually compete with other animals. Raccoons usually compete of mates of territory.

Raccoons are rated least concern on the ICUN rating list. Raccoons have a population of about three hundred million in North America. The raccoon population is increasing. 

Raccoon were popular in hunting and the fur trade in the 18th and 19th century.