Silas (Raccoon)
Procyon lotor
Raccoons
are one of the most unusual looking mammals in North America. They are easily identified by their plump
body, ringed tail, and narrow, black face mask with two white patches above the
eye. They are found virtually all over the United States, and are allowed as
pets in many states; hence, the reason for our permanent residents. They have a great sense of smell and hearing,
but most of all a dexterous sense of feel.
They have a reputation for “washing” their food which probably comes
from their preference in the wild to hunt and forage near creeks and
streams. They are very intelligent and
mothers pass on many survival techniques to their young.
Silas was one of several raccoons that came to Critter Creek in
the spring 2017. He was not as aggressive as the others and seemed to hang back
when the others played. The others grew more rapidly than did Silas. Finally we realized that he had vision issues
in at least one if not both of his eyes. When he no longer had to compete with
the others for food he began to grow properly; however it was clear that he
would be unable to compete in the wild.