Litter sizes range from one to eight young, with three to four the most common. Young are born after a gestation period of 60-73 days. At birth both the ear and eye canals are closed and open after 18 to 24 days. By the fourth or sixth week the young are able to support their weight with their legs. Females are protective of their young and care for them for about a year, even though the young are weaned and begin hunting for food at about two or three months.
Sexual maturity occurs in females at one year and in males at two years.
In the northern areas of the raccoon's range mating season is January through March, with a peak in February. Behavior Raccoons are nocturnal and seldom active in the daytime. During extremely cold, snowy periods raccoons have been observed sleeping for long periods at a time, but do not hibernate. Primarily a solitary animal, the only real social groups raccoons form are that of mother and young. Although, occasionally a male may stay with a female for a month prior to breeding and until after the birth of their young.