Have you ever seen a black raccoon? Odds are that you haven’t. I’ve only seen them in pictures. Just like the black color phase of grey squirrels, the black (also called melanistic) color phase of raccoons is caused by a recessive gene. It dramatically increases the level of melanin in their fur, which is the pigment that gives it color. Black raccoons are very rare.

Raccoons, the largest of the procyonid family, are quite fascinating creatures. These ring-tailed mammals vary tremendously in size depending on where they live. Adults can be anywhere from 16 to 28 inches in length and can weigh between 11 and 57 pounds. Like many animals, raccoons tend to follow Bergmann’s Rule, with the largest living in the North and the smallest in the South.

Raccoons are extremely smart and are good problem solvers. Scientists have studied them and report that they can remember complex tasks (often involving getting at food) for up to three years.

They have extremely agile front paws and like to feel under rocks in streams for prey such as crayfish. They rub the items as they examine them. This behavior is called “dousing”. Raccoons are omnivores and eat a very diverse diet, which allows them to adapt to varied habitat.

Raccoons also have very unique back feet which they are able to swivel 180 degrees enabling them to climb down trees face-first. Being able to swivel their feet, combined with their nimble elongated digits, makes them very adept at maneuvering in trees.

Young raccoons, called kits, are born in the Spring after a gestation period of about 65 days or so. There are 2 to 5 young in the litter. They are raised by their mother and disperse in the Fall.

Raccoons are estimated to live only about 2 or 3 years in the wild. In captivity, they have been documented at over 20 years old.

Here are a couple of fun facts about these masked mammals. The first written records of raccoons were from members of Christopher Columbus’ expedition back in the late 1400’s. Their original taxonomy was Ursus cauda elongata, meaning “long-tailed bear” because scientists at the time thought they were closely related to bears.

Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.