Wildlife Rescue League 2020

For Wildlife Rescue League’s fourth annual T-shirt fundraiser, the focus is on the raccoon, in honor of Jenna Such, a long-time raccoon rehabilitator who passed away this year. These little bandits are nocturnal and can live in a wide range of climates and habitats, often making their dens in trees or caves and occasionally barns or other man-made structures. Raccoons are omnivores, living off of a combination of fruits, nuts, and small insects or mammals. Raccoons can run up to 15 mph and can fall 40 feet without injury and raccoons have five toes on their front paws that act like human hands, The English word raccoon comes from the Powhatan word aroughcun, which means "animal that scratches with its hands." The black markings around raccoons' eyes help them see better at night; the dark color absorbs incoming light, reducing glare that would otherwise bounce into their eyes and obstruct their vision. Raccoons can make over 50 sounds to communicate, including hissing, purring, and growling.

Threats to raccoons include predators like coyotes, bobcats, wolves, and large hawks or owls, but humans serve as the biggest threat via car collisions, hunting, or trapping.