Raccoons do not like frosty and snowy weather. Do Raccoons Hibernate - How Do Raccoon Behave in Winter? With the onset of winter cold, charming animals with striped tail slowly and smoothly plunge into anabiosis. Smelling frost and snow blizzards, the raccoon hibernates. Of course, the raccoon is divided. Features of the winter anabiosis may vary among residents of different climatic zones. I suggest talking about how the raccoon behaves in hibernation in the north, middle latitudes, and tropics.
Do raccoons hibernate: Northern raccoon, hello from Tundra
It should be said at once that wild raccoons are still little studied. They are incredibly difficult to track down and even harder to observe their behavior in their natural habitat.
The raccoon researchers say that living in the north, the raccoon goes into winter hibernation and sleeps for 4-5 months until it snows down. There is a direct correlation between the strength of frost and the depth of the hibernation of raccoons.
The colder, the stronger is the sleep of the animals. Northern raccoons are very similar in behavior to brown bears. These mighty animals hibernate with the first snow and sleep without any problems until the steady spring. The raccoon's winter hibernation lasts from mid-November to April.
Raccoons hibernate: Preparation for Northern raccoon anabiosis
Northern raccoons differ from the residents of warmer regions in their tendency to accumulate subcutaneous fat and create supplies for the period of hibernation. Northern climate zone raccoons are more fat. If the weight of the average raccoon from mid-latitudes ranges at 3-15 (kg), the northern raccoons weigh 7-15 (kg). Inhabitants of the north have a larger set and thicker fur.
Before the raccoon goes into hibernation, it is actively gaining mass. The tendency of increasing subcutaneous fat is observed in the period from the end of summer to the onset of cold weather. These animals stuff the belly until the blade. During the summer and early autumn, raccoons hunt a lot. Everything goes:
- Insects
- Rodents
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Worms
- etc.
Northern raccoons are incredibly voracious. Some scientists note that this animal has become a real threat to many insect species.
In the autumn, raccoons are smoothly transferred to the food of plant origin. The main diet is acorns, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
Some individuals make a supply of provisions for the spring. Raccoons can stock acorns and nuts, that are not perishable products that are guaranteed to be preserved by spring.
Middle climate zone raccoons hibernate, hello from the USA
The animals of middle latitudes are less prone to winter anabiosis. Do raccoons hibernate? - Yes, fall into hibernation. But, here we need to make an amendment. The depth of raccoons sleep from this climate zone is quite superficial. There are cases when the raccoons walk around already in early February. That is, if the street reigns sunny, windless weather, the raccoons wake up and go out to warm up.
Of course, in winter, the activity of raccoons is markedly reduced. Instead of debauchery and hooliganism, raccoons lead a modest lifestyle, coming to life from winter anabiosis. The raccoon, which hibernates, can sleep for up to 4 months in partial anabiosis mode. That is, any warming wakes the raccoons, which makes the sleep superficial and too intermittent. If the winter is warm enough, the raccoons may not sleep at all. In this case, the hibernation will be reminiscent only of a decrease in the physical activity of these animals.
Preparation for the hibernation of raccoons from the middle climate zone
Does the raccoon hibernate in winter where warm weather prevails? - It hibernates, but in rare cases. In regions where the temperature does not fall below +12 ° (C), raccoons are not prone to winter anabiosis. The ancient and archaic instinct of winter hibernation resembles only a slight decrease in physical activity, which will be visible only to the experienced eye.
The raccoons of this climate zone are lightweight and wool with little lint. If you put a northern and tropical raccoon next to it, the difference will be great. In fact, a tropical raccoon has become an independent subspecies. These animals are called raccoon rakeoids. In contrast to the striped raccoon, the raccoon has almost smooth hair. It is all about the climate. Tropics is the warmest climate zone. There is no need to protect yourself from the cold with a layer of fat and thick wool.
The winter period in the tropics is characterized by abundant rainfall. Do raccoons hibernate during multi-week heavy rains? - Scientists did not observe hibernation. The only thing is that the raccoon can just wait for the whims of nature in its cozy nest. That is, during the rainy season, a raccoon can take a nap in the hollow of its tree, waiting for good weather.
What about domestic raccoons?
As for the raccoons from northern latitudes, if the pet lives in an enclosure on the street, it will certainly hibernate. And do the raccoons hibernate while living with their owners under the same roof? - No. Covered in warmth, the raccoons are not prone to winter anabiosis. The only thing that may remind you of hibernation is a decrease in physical activity.
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