8 NEBRASKAland • JULY 2017
A Mammal
Brief
By Lindsay Rogers
Procyon lotor
An extremely
adaptable animal, the
northern raccoon is
native to most of North
America including
Canada, the United
States and Mexico.
They can be found in
nearly any area with
accessible water, but
prefer wooded habitats.
Due to their adaptability,
raccoons are commonly
found in farmland, suburban and urban habitats where they forage for human foods including agricultural
crops, garbage and dog food. In non-urban areas, raccoons eat small mammals, crayfish, nuts and fruit – they
are true omnivores eating nearly anything they can find. Their front paws are remarkably human-like and allow
for catching prey and prying open fruits or nuts (and trash cans). Their Latin name "lotor" means "the washer"
and refers to their well-known behavior of washing their food. Population densities vary widely depending on
the habitat, but in general their numbers have risen since the turn of the century due to their ability to adapt to
human habitats. ■
Lindsay Rogers is an outdoor
education specialist with the
Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission.
PHOTO
BY
ERIC
FOWLER