<< Previous Next >>

Raccoon (Procyon loto)


Raccoon (Procyon loto)
Photo Information
Copyright: Heinz Koloska (wallhalla15) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1767 W: 58 N: 3350] (13829)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-13
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S7000, Fujifilm 1,5 X Tele Conversions Lens
Exposure: f/3.1, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-14 3:40
Viewed: 1569
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I had luck. I saw this small chap yesterday in the Arnsberger forest. I hope you like it. (In Germany live over 100.000 racoon.)

look: http://diewaschbaerenkommen.de/

Raccoon (Procyon loto)

Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: carnivora
Family: Procyonidae

Size: Adults range from 71.1 - 83.8 cm (28 - 33 in) in total length and weigh from 5.4 - 11.8 kg (12 - 26 lbs).
Color: The fur is grizzled in appearance, varying from grayish to blackish. (Cinnamon and albino forms sometimes occur.) The belly is usually gray with long white guard hairs. The triangular ears are tipped with white, and they set off the white face and pointed muzzle with its black mask.
Other things to look for: The Raccoon is a short-legged, stocky, medium-sized carnivore. The characteristic ringed tail and the "bandit-like" black facial mask make the Raccoon one of the most easily identified mammals in North America.

Breeding takes place from December to June, peaking in February and March. A litter of 1-7 young are born two months later. Young Raccoons, called kits, are weaned at 10 - 12 weeks of age. At this time they begin to travel with the female on her nightly foraging forays. A Raccoon reaches sexual maturity in the spring following its birth.

The raccoon is one of the most adaptable mammals in the United States, being found in urban and suburban as well as rural habitats, from coastal marshes to forested uplands. It prefers wetland sites associated with rivers, streams, marshes, swamps, and lakes. In the wild, it makes its den in a hollow tree or a crevice in a rock ledges, but this adaptable animal will also take advantage of human structures by moving into a barn, an attic, and an abandoned building.

A healthy raccoon is nocturnal, foraging throughout the night and returning to its den before sunrise. (A Raccoon that appears during daylight hours should be avoided, particularly if it appears to be sick, weak, or aggressive. Such an animal may be infected with the deadly rabies disease.) The Raccoon is active all year long, but during periods of extreme winter weather it may remain in the den and live off stored body fat. It is an omnivore, feeding on whatever is most available during a given season. Its diet includes fruits, berries, nuts, acorns, insects, small mammals, birds and their eggs, crayfish, crabs, frogs, turtle eggs, and fish. Some biologists suggest that when a Raccoon appears to be washing its food before eating, it is actually feeling it rather than cleaning it. Predators of raccoons include bobcats, foxes, coyotes, and owls. Vehicles are also a cause of raccoon mortality, for raccoons are frequently seen as road kills. Raccoons may live 5 -6 years in the wild and 10 - 12 years in captivity.

Info from: http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/mammals/Carnivora/Procyonidae/plotor.html
Janice, TAZ, Runnerduck, red45, sAner, fiyo, scottevers7, henrye, Libor, liquidsunshine, marhowie, Luc, coasties, marjan has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-10-14 4:02]

Excellent Heinz, a racoon in the wild. What a good capture, he's so sharp and clear. And I can see you in his eyes too. Great fur textures and colours. Well done.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-10-14 4:10]

Wooooooow ! I love it ! Wonderful expression (with you in eyes) in this great portrait ! Congratulations Heinz and thanks for sharing with us.

Just amazing, what luck! You have captured a great expression.
Well done!

Hello Heinz!
It's a Sweety :-) I love this funny, friendly and wonderful Raccoon.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-10-14 4:56]

Yeah Heinz, you were lucky! This small racoon looks very happy. I love its pose and face.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-10-14 6:12]

Wonderful capture Heinz. Good note and sharp details. Too bad the branches were a bit in the way and you've got some motion-blur on the lower jaw. Still this is a very nice catch. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Nice shot Heinz!
Branches are a bit disturbing, but whole photo looks fine.
You've captured lovely creature here and you did it well.
WELL DONE & TFS

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2762] (10618)
  • [2005-10-14 6:58]

Excellent shot Heinz, Lovely composition and POV. Very good lighting, sharp and detailed image, very nice colours. Well done. TFS :)

Hi Heinz,
Excellent capture on this racoon. The colors and detail are perfect. He has a great expression on his face.
Scott

Verey well done. You captured a great pose here. I think the branches and the motion in the jaw actually makes this photo more 'real' to me, as if you surprised the raccon.

Unglaublich, Heinz, da gratuliere ich Dir aber zu dieser wundervollen Begegnung, ich wäre gerne dabei gewesen. Das ist so ein putziges Kerlchen mit dem "Funkeln" in den Augen und dem angriffslustigen offenen Maul. Und er sieht so kuschelig aus, Du hast aber auch genau die Tiefenschärfe hinbekommen, lange ist er bestimmt nicht so schön Modell gesessen, oder? Einfach herrlich, vielen Dank
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • Libor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 176 W: 1 N: 25] (1101)
  • [2005-10-14 15:20]

nice shot
good timing :o)
perfect sharpness
TFS Well done

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2005-10-14 17:01]

Hi Heinz,
Excellent captured this cute fellow!
Very sharp and detailed, good lighting and well composed.
TFS!

Greta capture Heinz,
Good sharp and clear detail. The colours are nice and the exposure is spot on.
Great shot. Thanks for posting, have a great weekend

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2005-10-14 19:19]

Belle prise nature, les couleurs sont belles et un bel action du spécimen.

Félicitations !

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-10-14 22:51]

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Power of evocation in me: very strong.
Very strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete and interesting.
Thank you Heinz. Great work. I like it! Have a good weekend in Germany!

Hello Heinz

Nice POV. Good colours and sharpness. Detail is spot on. Nicely composed. Well done. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6167] (21074)
  • [2005-10-15 3:00]

A very sharp capture of this cute raccoon, Heinz. The eye contact and the open mouth are fantastic. Funny how I can see you in his eyes. Very cool. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2005-10-15 5:56]

Hi Heinz,
good capture, superb portrait. Here all is ok. - I like the colours, sharpness and contrast. Good note, too. Well done.
Rgs, Aleksander

This is great Heinz. This pose is terrific. Very good impact. Thank You

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-10-17 6:42]

Hi Heinz,
You did a great capture, i like the composition & perfect exposure. Sharpness & colours are great,
Very well done!
TFS

  • Great 
  • marjan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 14 N: 360] (2641)
  • [2006-03-29 13:44]

Halo "butterfly" man, You have the biggist colection of butterfly on TN, but this time I am fascinated by ths small raacun. EXcelent photo with wonderful moment of shot and very good notice about this buty animal. TFS
Majan

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF