Dawn was acquired April 12, 1999 .  Dawn was acquired from a zoo just outside of Ottawa. There was not enough room in the exhibit for another raccoon and she became a surplus animal. We have had this raccoon since she was 6 days old, and she has appeared on several wildlife documentaries on television, from a young age. Dawn is, believe it or not, the dominant animal of her communal enclosure at the center as she is mixed in with both a Silver and Red Fox.

Raccoon (Raton laveur)

Dining and Dwelling

In nature they eat fruit, berries, nuts, insects, worms, slugs, snails, mussels, oysters, seafood of all kinds, small mammals, birds (as large as geese), turtles, lizards, frogs, fish, carrion, and even the contents of a well (or not so well) closed garbage can.

This nocturnal animal is found just about anywhere there is water. The Raccoon is one of the few medium sized wild mammals that has done well, and even thrived, in urban areas.

Life and Death

Raccoons mate between February and June with 3-7 young being born, with the usual number being 4, 63-65 days later. The mothers usually raise the babies alone and the babies usually over winter with her and remain until the following spring. Female raccoons can breed at one year of age.

Predators of the raccoon are cougars, wolves, coyotes, and some birds of prey. Others causes of death are road kills, hunting, starvation and disease.

That's Amazing

-“Coon Skins” were once prized so highly in the United States that they were used as Currency

-The word raccoon comes from the Native American word “Aroughcan” or “Arkua” meaning he who scratches with his hands

-There is an estimated 600,000 raccoons in the greater  Toronto area