Provides information about the physical characteristics, habits, and behavior of raccoons and such related species as the coati, kinkajou, red panda, and ringtail.

These booklets give the general reader facts and information about fur-bearing mammals from a more conservation-oriented perspective than information generally available from other sources. Each is based on the relevant SSC Action Plan, and is well-illustrated with color photographs and a center spread of sketches showing the animals in action.

The word raccoon is drawn from the Native American Algonquian language. Their term arakun roughly translates to “he who scratches with his hands.” Anyone who has found a raccoon rummaging around in a once securely closed trash container can attest to how skillful raccoons are with their front paws. In fact, they have four times as many sensory receptors in their forepaw skin as they do in their hindpaws, a ratio similar to that of human hands and feet. Samuel Zeveloff explores this trait and much more in his accessible natural history of raccoons. Written with the general reader in mind, Raccoons presents detailed information on raccoon evolution, physical characteristics, social behavior, habitats, food habits, reproduction, and conservation, as well as their relationship with humans and many other topics. The section on distribution and subspecies focuses on the raccoon’s current range expansion, and the material on their cultural significance demonstrates this mammal’s unique status in different North American cultures.

This is the newly re-edited edition of a true-life adventure with a mother raccoon who suddenly gave birth in a suburban house basement. The book walks you through what the author experienced first hand from the time the babies were born to when they outgrew their surroundings. It also speaks about how a growing admiration for the mother raccoon evolved into a trusting and fun-loving adventure along with her six babies.