Although raccoons and brush-tailed possums are not related to each other, they are both mammals and look and behave in similar ways. These similarities came about because both animals live in the same kind of environment and have responded to their habitats in much the same ways.
Raccoons are placental animals.
They are born after a gestation period of approximately 65 days. Their eyes will open when about three weeks old and most raccoons are weaned by 4 months. They can be found living in timbered and brushy areas from southern Canada to Panama. The size of a raccoon averages about 15 pounds, but some will weigh as much as 50 pounds. Raccoons make their dens in a variety of places including hollow trees, dry caves, rock crevices, abandoned buildings, even burrows made by other animals.