Young raccoons often remain with their mother throughout the year. Young males disperse from the area of their birth den at about one year old and may move several miles before establishing an area of their own. In North Dakota, individual raccoons will occupy home range from less than one up to 18 square miles. Adult males usually occupy the largest areas and there is usually much overlap in the home ranges of adult males and females. There is much variation in raccoons' daily activity patterns both by individuals and by season.
Raccoons arc typically active from about sunset to sunrise.
Although raccoons are not considered to hibernate, families do congregate in winter dens to sleep through severe winter periods. They prepare for this period of winter sleep by storing fat on their bodies during the late summer and fall. Raccoons have a variety of calls. Their calls include hissing, barks and snorts which are uttered to express fear or as threat. In addition to these calls, raccoons may growl snarl and squeal.