<< 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: 2005-10-15
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S7000, Fujifilm 1,5 X Tele Conversions Lens
Exposure: f/3.0, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-18 4:49
Viewed: 2771
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
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
coasties, Janice, sAner, TAZ, gerhardt, Tommysugar, hummingbird24, carper, marhowie, red45, Luc, ellis49, pompey 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]

What a character! This picture is very nice, I almost feel like I can reach out and nerf his nose. Paul :)

Hello Heinz

Very good shot. Nicely composed. Sharp details and good POV. Well done. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-10-18 5:37]

Hi there Heinz, what a super shot of this alert and pretty fellow. I love his eyes and colourings. Well composed, nice and sharp, very well done.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-10-18 6:49]

Very cute picture! Lovely eyes and nice fur-detail. Well composed and excellent POV. Well done Heinz & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-10-18 7:00]

What a lovely Raccoon that you have well captured. Look at his eyes, he was waiting your caress ;-) Congratulations Heinz and TFS.

Hi Heinz!
Sweety ;-) I love this amazing portrait.

Intense stare from this racoon. You did well to manage the exposure given the bright BG. Nice one.

Really a beautiful face. You used a lot of zoom?

Hallo Heinz,
wann darf ich Dich besuchen kommen, damit Du mit mir diesen tollen Freund anschauen gehst.
Ich will auch mal so ein goldiges Wesen life sehen! Ach ist der süüüüüüßßß. So richtig zum knuddeln. Bei uns gibts die in den Wäldern leider nicht, würde sich aber wahrscheinlich auch nicht mit unserer Katze verstehen.
Viele Grüße
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2005-10-18 12:33]

nice Heinz,
It's a beauty, realy nice composition, good crop, fine details and yes I like it, good job,
gr. Jaap

Lovely shot Heinz!
He is so cute and whole photo has very good quality. The POV is perfect.
I like it very much.
VERY WELL DONE & TFS!

Very good clarity & sharpness Heinz. An excellent POV. Cute shot. Thank You.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-10-18 17:44]

Superbly cute face and eyes Heinz! Lovely portrait of this funny animal.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-10-18 20:17]

Personal assessment of the photo: very good.
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.
Thank you Heinz.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2005-10-18 20:53]

Excellent portrait, Heinz
Very sharp and clarity, nice pose,
great framing.
TFS!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2005-10-18 22:31]

What a cute raccoon, Heinz. He has a wonderfully curious expression. You must have been very close to him. Sharp details and great POV. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • puciu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 519 W: 0 N: 16] (2603)
  • [2005-10-19 11:17]

Hi Heinz. Wspania³y portret przesympatycznego zwierzaka. Bardzo dobra jako¶æ.
robert.

He is a cutie, Heinz!

Something is getting his undivided attention, it seems.

Great eye details, nice colors, and perfect pose.

Well done and thank you for sharing.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-10-19 22:22]

Heinz, I do have the feeling this is your best shot so far.

I do enjoy it.

Excellent sharpness, composition, pov and details.

A lovely and perfect shot. Pose and catchlight in the eyes are amazing too.

Congratulations.

Hi Heinz,
You have caught a very cute animal with good details and exposure. Well composed and good POV.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 4 N: 745] (2768)
  • [2005-10-22 11:10]

Superb portrait Heinz, so cute, perfectly captured pose.
Great informative note too.
Thanks for sharing.
Michael.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF