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Detailed Description Of The Raccoon

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Detailed description of the Raccoon The raccoon is a native mammal, measuring about 3 feet long, including its 12-inch, bushy, ringed tail. While most Raccoons weigh between 12 and 22 pounds, raccoons can grow as large as 60 pounds as has been reported in some areas such as Washington, Maine, and Minnesota. Additionally, their weights are dependent on their genetics, age, availability of food, and habitat location. Furthermore, because their hind legs are longer than the front legs, raccoons tend to have hunched appearance when they walk or run. According to nature magazine raccoons are very tactile animals, the five toes on their front paws are extremely dexterous, essentially functioning as five little fingers which allow it to grasp and then manipulate food and a variety of other objects; hence, it is not surprising to see a raccoon picking up grapes and berries very much like a human would. They are known for their exceptional hearing and night vision; the excellent hearing and night vision are both very useful for locating small prey such as beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. According to the article titled, Life and habitat of Raccoon (n.d), “Raccoons are also outstanding climbers and are one of the very few animals that can descend a tree head-first -- a feat accomplished by turning their paws 180 degrees”. They are reluctant to swim even though they can swim. Worth noting is that raccoons are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals, they tend to

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