Raccoon.

Raccoon. Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Procyonidae Genus Procyon Conservation Some species are endangered due to habitat destruction. Concerns Range North and South America. Habitat Forests and rural areas, usually near water. Size Length: 0.62 to 1.0 m (2 to 3.3 ft), including the tail. Weight: 2 to 12 kg (4 to 26 lb). Feeding Habits Raccoons are omnivores; they eat fish, frogs, crayfish, crabs, nuts, seeds, acorns, and berries. Offspring Female raccoons give birth to a litter of four to six babies after a gestation period of 66 days. The young nurse up to four months. Life Span Up to five years in the wild. Did You Know The front paws and nose of a raccoon are very sensitive to touch. A raccoon's footprint looks very similar to a human's footprint. During the winter, raccoons lose as much as 50 percent of their body weight. Raccoons in captivity sometimes dip their food in water before eating, perhaps mimicking the experience of fishing in a stream. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.