It's October 1st, 🦝 International Raccoon Appreciation Day. This event was created to encourage us to learn more about raccoons and show our appreciation by protecting their habitats.
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, native to North America and northern South America. In the wild, raccoons have a life expectancy of about 2 to 3 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 20 years. These cute little mammals are omnivores like us who eat a variety of foods – fruits, nuts, berries, insects, rodents, frogs, crayfish, and eggs, while keeping an eye out for predators like cougars, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and owls.
Despite their appeal, though, some people look upon raccoons as vermin. They can be pesky critters – turning over trash cans, tearing up gardens, stealing eggs from chicken coops, etc. They can also carry diseases like rabies and roundworm.
Most people love raccoons anyway, though – especially the unique way they use their paws to "wash" their food. They also use their little hands to open latches and remove lids from containers. They can rotate their rear paws 180 agrees, which allows them to climb down trees headfirst. Raccoons are incredibly smart, too. At one time, they were used instead of lab rats, but the strong-willed raccoons kept outsmarting the scientists. Because of their high intelligence and cuteness, some people keep raccoons as pets. President Calvin Coolidge had two pet raccoons while he was in the White House. How cute! ☮️ Peace… Jamiese of Pixoplanet
