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Raccoons and Relatives: Procyonidae

Procyonids And People

Procyonids are hunted for their meat and fur. Raccoons and coatis are considered pests for attacking chickens and damaging crops. The northern raccoon is a carrier of rabies, an often deadly disease affecting the central nervous system and transmitted through the raccoon's saliva.

DO RACCOONS WASH THEIR FOOD BEFORE EATING IT?

The northern raccoon's species name lotor comes from the Latin meaning "washer." This relates to captive raccoons' tendency to dunk their food in water. Some scientists believe that captive raccoons are trying to duplicate their behavior in the wild, where they search for and grasp food underwater using their sensitive forepaws. In captivity, when raccoons dip their food in water, they give the impression of washing the food before eating it.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMammalsRaccoons and Relatives: Procyonidae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Procyonids And People, Northern Raccoon (procyon Lotor): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS