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Young Raccoon - female -


Young Raccoon - female -
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: 2006-09-15
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S7000, Fujifilm 1,5 X Tele Conversions Lens
Exposure: f/3.1, 1/74 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-09-16 4:04
Viewed: 1701
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 28
[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

- pictured in the Arnsberger forrest -
thor68, valy67, liquidsunshine, manyee, ramthakur, ddg, Hil, marjan has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To SkyF: Dankewallhalla15 1 09-19 07:45
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Critiques [Translate]

oh, wie süß! wo hast du denn die her, heinz?! :-)
toll komponiert wie sie auf dem moosbewachsenen felsen sitzt
und dich anblickt - und was für ein blick! das leichte schielen ist so niedlich.
das muss ich sofort mal meiner kleinen zeigen,
die ist verrückt nach tieren und wird sich sehr freuen.
danke & einen schönen samstag, thorsten.

Hallo Heinz !
Dieses Tier (ich kenne den deutschnen namen nicht)is so nett, ich liebe seine Position und seinen aufmerksamen Blick. Die Komposition ist wunderbar, die natürlichen Farben sind toll, und der grüne Hintergrund is auch sehr schön. Vielen Danken,
Valérie.

Hi Heinz,
I know these guys very well... Recently, tree of them used to enter in my home by a LOCKED MAGNETIC CAT TRAP :) One night, I woke up and one of them was in my bedroom... I like them to be very wise and agile; they can almost do anything they want with their little hands... I know that they can be sick... There was a big offensive recently at about 40 miles from my house. On up to 100 specimens; they found one who has rabies... You caught her very well with excellent details, nice pose and good composition. TFS,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-09-16 7:04]

Definitely different from your butterflies Heinz! What a cute fellow, nice and sharp, good sharpness too. I love her look at you, TFS
Janice

Hello Heinz!
Nice shot of this racoon. Ten years back or so I used to see them more often, now I just can't remember last time I saw one that wouldn't be a roadkill. They look very friendly, but, as Claudine said, a lot of them is sick, so you have to be careful around them. I like the pose of yours very much. Regards,
Mark

Hello Heinz,
The details are nice, clear and sharp.
superb colours, lighting and exposure. The POV is good.
Well composed, I really like the pose of the racoon.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

What a cute raccoon, Heinz!
You have captured the innocent expression on its face very well.
Very good point of view and depth of focus.
Thanks for sharing it.

  • Great 
  • Karin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 418 W: 5 N: 268] (2089)
  • [2006-09-16 12:40]

Hi Heinz,
I think no one can resist the look of this racoon :)
Good composition and pose.
Well done and TFS

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2006-09-16 14:57]

Hi Heinz, well caught this young Raccoon, what a look!! Very nice pose and great sharpness. Congratulations, Didier.

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2006-09-16 18:47]

Hi Heinz,

Lovely shot, you have captured a lovely expression on this Raccoons face and the light in its eyes is really nice, the sharp detail of the fur is excellent and lovely natural colours.

TFS Hilary :o)

Hi Heinz

Well done on a great shot. Lovely details you show here. Good POV, nice catchlight in the eyes. TFS.

  •      
  • marjan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 14 N: 360] (2641)
  • [2006-09-17 14:49]

nice, cleare and bright shot. Good coloures.
Marjan

Excellent capture.
The only little nit is the torn ear, but obviously nothing you could do about it.
composition colors atmosphere is all lovely.
TFS

Hello Heinz,
Excellent capture for its cute pose, POV, sharp detail, color, exposure, DOF, and composition that includes this great FG.
I did a WS to try and enhance it a bit.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-09-19 7:17]
  • [+]

Hallo Heinz,
der Schein druegt, die sehen zwar niedlich aus aber sind ganz schoene Ganoven ;-). Nicht umsonst haben die ne Maske auf.
Ganz toll hast du die erwischt, suess wie sie dir in die Kamera schaut. Gut gewaehlte Perspektive und schoene Farben. Schaerfe und Bildgestaltung sind prima.
Sky

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