Fourth in our Countdown to Halloween series: Who keeps their black mask on year round? Did you guess correct? The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is most notable for its black mask and bushy ringed tail. They are omnivorous creatures, meaning they eat both plants and animals. In the Florida Keys, raccoons often feed on fruits of figs and other fruit bearing trees, other plant material, crustaceans (including crayfish), birds or turtle eggs, and even small animals. Predators to the raccoon include the alligator; some birds will actually nest in areas where there are large concentrations of alligators in order to protect their eggs and young from being eaten by raccoons. The raccoon in this video was found feeding on Silver Palm (Cocothrinax argentata) berries up at the Nature Trails trailhead in the National Key Deer Refuge. Many animals living in the Lower Florida Keys look different than other north American raccoons . Raccoons found in the Lower Keys tend to be much smaller and lighter in color (almost cocoa colored) than their mainland cousins. Help keep raccoons honest- Make sure to remove any food sources around your home that may attract them. Bringing in pet food, securing trash cans, and squirrel-proofing bird feeders are great ways to keep raccoons from becoming unwelcome house guests. Our raccoons in the Keys tend to be active during daylight as well as at night, so don’t be alarmed if you see one, they are probably just traveling around in search of food. Sources Include: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, MyFWC Video credit: USFWS/Heidi Murray
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:51:34 +0000
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