Describing a Raccoon in this way is not an easy task for me. This is probably because i have lived with them very closely for many years and that I don't view them as a wild animal anymore but as my best friends. A raccoon could probably play the lead roll in any comedy, because he is a very intelligent animal and very eager to learn. The Algonkin-Indians gave him the name ESSIPAN, which when translated means "the funny one" or " the joker"

The raccoon is an exceptional nosy creature. With their small hands, they investigate everything. No hole or crack is save from them. They are drawn to water as if it were a magnet and when they scan its ground for crabs, muscles and roots; they look as if they are washing their hands. There is no way that these animals are omnivores.

Many people have that opinion, because their curiosity makes them look threw bins. At this point I want to say it again: when it comes to his food, the raccoon is very picky. In the spring, for example, he prefers insects, larvae and worms. If his coat gets dull and matted, he needs a lot of protein in order to grow a new nice silky coat. Until then he sometimes looks like a beggar, in old, tattered clothes.

In the summer he is mainly a vegetarian. On all our house corners we have feeding places and feed dogs dry food, fruit and vegetables. In September raccoons eat extra amounts. They have a sweet tooth. Now and again they get a muesli with yoghurt and fruitloops.

When it gets cold and winter is near, you notice that they are getting tired and inactive. A raccoon can fast for a very long time and hardly needs any food over the winter months. My foundlings of course get supplied with food all through winter. They have been raised by humans and are used to being fed. Their den, which my man has built for them, is under our patio. As soon as the first snow falls they fall asleep! In the following year they turn wild, all by themselves and they can survive without our help.

You need to have a lot of patience to educate little raccoons. Raccoon babies want everything their way, but since I am stubborn I get on with them just fine. Raccoon babies are just as pleased if you play with them as little children are. It can happen that an animal jumps in my face. Sometimes when they get carried away in a game they act as if they have rabies and forget that I don't have a furcoat.

ThenI act as a raccoon mother would, and grab the little ones by their neck shake it and say a strong 'NO'. No later than the fifth time the little one understands.

Over their climbing abilities you cannot help but to be astounded. At the age of two months they already try to climb every tree. My heart nearly stops, when I watch my little orphans doing that.

Little raccoons live with their mother till spring and they share their den with other female raccoons. The female raccoons live for a few years in group together. The males get chased off after mating. They are often aggressive towards the offspring but are generally more clingy than females.

When the breeding season starts in February, you can hear whistles in the whole forest. The two year old males travel very far in order to find a female. It is interesting to listen to them at night. When a male follows a group of females, it reminds me of a gaggle of geese. The sounds the males make sound similar to the growling of a marten.

After mating the female searches for a tall hollow tree, which will give them the security they need. This is so she can give birth to two, four or in seldom cases six young, after a gestation period of two months. The mother stays after birth with her offspring. Not until two months after birth will they leave the tree and go on their first family outings.

I observe raccoon families, and I am allowed to accompany them. These are very precious lessons for me. That is how I get the best recipes on how to rear the young, and you cannot find them in any book. The whimpering of the raccoon babies is so loud, that you can hear it at a distance from about 100 meters.

Raccoon have perfect social behaviour: All females, even those that don't have any offspring, take care of the little ones, as soon as they can follow their mother.

It has happened, that males which I have raised, came back to me. I am still his friend, but the females don't like seeing this and chase him off.

When the little ones, that I have raised, come into contact with a strange older raccoon for the first time, it is always worth watching and very impressive. If they are excited and scared, their tail resembles the one of a cat, and they even wag it. In that situation you can also hear the squeaking, but it is hard to describe it. They prepare themselves for an attack by gathering themselves together (of course they do that behind me). In that moment they animate me as their mother to get rid of the stranger. They wait for a signal in order to attack the strange raccoon with me.

So I run up to the trespasser , and my little fighter whistle and chirp. We've done it again, victory is ours. I stayed at their side and protected them, like they had expected me to. They surly see me as their "mother" and that is why I have to prove that they can rely on me and trust me in every situation.

Sometimes I have to help with a broom, if a male is very persistent, and the little ones are running behind me eagerly wagging their tail and chirping sounds. I bet it looks very funny when a human fends of an adult raccoon, with a group of raccoon babies backing her up. It is very fortunate that we live in alone in the forest and no one can see me!

After all we are a family and we stick together.

At the age of three monts, raccoons become more and more nocturnal. That is how nature intended it. They stray in the forest for very long times, but there is always an older female raccoon nearby. When they hear a sound they freeze. They recognize my calls and whistles and they find me very quickly.

Raccoons have a very keen memory. The ones I raised greet my dogs and me if I meet them in the forest. Of course I can't pick them up anymore, but many lick my hands and pull my hair.

Even my dogs can distinguish between my rehabilitated orphans and strange animals.

Raccoons would not breed as much, if the humans wouldn't fight them so hard. The nature has arranged it in such a way, that in times when animals are scares they have more offspring in order to keep the population up. Therefore the more animals the human kills, the more offspring will come. The nature makes sure that everything stays in balance.

For me raccoons are friends and not a trespasser. He could also become your friend! It is so nice to observe and watch these funny little comrades in the garden.

Give him the same chance that you give to your peers.

The Breeding:

In February is the main breeding season.

One litter per year between April and August after a gestation period from 63 -65 days (54-70), Most litters are born in April. Do to them being bi-oestrus they can have late litters until august.

Number of teats: 6. Number of Offspring: 2-4 seldom 6, Weight at Birth: 65-75g

Newborns have hair but are toothless. The milk teeth come with the canine teeth when they are 4 weeks old (the weight will be aprox. 300g.) The milk-dentures are completly developed by the 9th week.

The last molar comes at the end of the 3rd - beginning of 4th month. Suckling last until the 16th week. The weaning starts from the 3rd month (Bodyweight: mostly over 1.500g).

The upbringing is done by the mother alone, the male gets chased away.