Raccoon Lifespan: How Long Do Raccoons Live?

Raccoons are universally adored and reviled, depending on your perspective. They are particularly widespread in the US.

This article aims to address the subject of how long a raccoon’s life expectancy is, regardless of your stance on raccoons.

 

What is the Life Cycle of Raccoons?

How Long Do Raccoons Live as NewBorns?

Raccoons engage in mating during the late winter and early spring seasons. Female individuals often engage in reproduction once a year.

Raccoons typically exhibit a gestation period of approximately two months, during which the majority of individuals give birth to an average litter size ranging from 3 to 6 offspring.

Newborn infants have a lack of visual perception, an absence of hair, and a state of vulnerability. The presence of their mother is important for ensuring their survival.

Baby raccoons, commonly referred to as kits, commence ambulation within a span of three to four weeks following their birth.

During this period, they face the highest level of vulnerability, since coyotes and other predators possess the ability to seize them due to their diminutive stature and inherent defenselessness.

 

Read also: How To Get Rid Of Raccoons Under Your Deck

 

How Long Do Raccoons Live as Youngs?

As the juvenile raccoons undergo development, they undergo a series of transformations. Nonetheless, the offspring persist in the company of their maternal caregivers for a duration spanning from 6 to 8 months, and in some cases, even for the entirety of their initial year of existence.

This year presents a challenging phase for juvenile raccoons, as they acquire crucial skills related to foraging and predator evasion strategies.

After reaching one year of age, raccoons typically exhibit a preference for living alone. Male raccoons achieve sexual maturity at the age of two, while female raccoons attain this milestone within a single year.

During this stage of their development, juvenile raccoons engage in the acquisition of food through foraging, as they exhibit opportunistic omnivorous behaviour.

 

How Long Do Raccoons Live as Adults?

Raccoons reach complete adulthood upon reaching the age of two years. The weight of raccoons can vary significantly, ranging from 5 pounds to more than 20 pounds, contingent upon factors such as their physical dimensions and the availability of food resources.

When discussing the topic of food, it is interesting to note that raccoons exhibit a behaviour similar to humans since they have a preference for washing their food prior to consumption.

Regrettably, a considerable number of mature raccoons are approaching the conclusion of their existence in accordance with their typical lifespan within natural habitats.

Due to the multitude of environmental challenges and health-related considerations, the lifespan of an adult raccoon is often limited to a relatively short duration, typically not extending beyond two to three years.

Nevertheless, raccoons continue to serve as a valuable constituent of numerous ecosystems and habitats.

If one encounters challenges with raccoons on one’s premises, there are numerous measures that can be taken to ensure the safety of both the raccoons and the property.

One effective measure to deter these mammals without causing harm is to securely cover your trash cans.

 

Read also: How To Catch A Raccoon Without A Trap

 

How Long Do Raccoons Live?

Raccoons typically engage in mating activities throughout the period, spanning from February to March.

The duration of gestation typically spans approximately two months, during which females give birth to a solitary litter, including a range of two to seven offspring.

Newborn infants lack the ability to see, possess teeth, or exhibit distinct patterns of fur. These characteristics emerge within a relatively short period of time following the individual’s birth.

The typical lifespan of a raccoon in its natural habitat is approximately five years. However, when provided with ample food resources and suitable shelter, raccoons have demonstrated the ability to survive for more than ten years.

Nevertheless, research findings suggest that approximately 50% of raccoons experience mortality during their initial year of life as a result of factors such as sickness, scarcity of food, predation, or human interference.

 

Read also: Do Raccoons Climb Trees?

 

Conclusion

While most raccoons live to be around five years old, a large number of kits do not make it to maturity. The record for the longest duration a wild raccoon has survived is 16 years, although the maximum duration for a raccoon in captivity is 21 years.

The average lifespan of raccoons is significantly affected by whether they are in captivity or the wild. Raccoons typically don’t make it to sexual maturity in the wild, and their lives are cut short even before that.

Thank you for reading!

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