Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-04-07
When the Raccoon Forages.

Despite the inroadS made by hunters,
| the raccoon still lives in nearly every
Wooded section of the United States.
He is an interesting fellow and is well
worth knowing, though it takes careful
observation to unravel the secrets of
/ his life, for ne is cunning.
Just as his face is sharp and clear
that of the owl when it comes to carry
ing power. 1t is in late autumn, when
the night all is crisp and cold that the
raccoon can he heard to the best ad-
sounded from the mountainside was
raccoon, probably tust starting on for
aging party, and telling the.rest of the
crowd TO hurry so they can return be-
fore the moon becomes too bright.
1t seems strange, but the raccoonn
much prefers to do his hunting on dark
nights. On moonlight nights. he will
scurry out at dust. and he is usually
home again before the moon has topped
; the mountain above the feeding
grounds. Home, in early autumn, is
, usually dry cavity in tree; later,
when the colder weather comes, Mr..
Raccoon moves into a cavern back in
, the rocks, first making certain it will
} remain dry during the winter.
The raccoon is very careful to wash
regularly. Walk along a mountain
: stream, and see the clear impressions of
his nimble paws in the mud by the deep
pools where the Ash gather as the au-
Y tumn droughts cause the streams to
!, dwindle. That doesn't look as though
c he cared about whether he kept clean or
d not; but did you see where he left the
e stream when the hunt for the evening
d meal was finished? Probably not. fol-
e the chances are that he stepped ashore
! on rock or clean sand where he wash
c ed himself carefully before staring for
home
Any bright object in the water
arouseS his curiosity. The hunter takes
advantage Of this trait by using bright
metal fish as decoys to lure the raccoor
q into the trap. The raccoon swims we'll
!, and he often takes refuge in the near.
:, est stream when surprised by a dog
And it is not unusual for a full grown
e raccoon to drown the dog that has te
meritv en' oh % attack hui in the wa
ter.
20 Fish and frogs are, however, only ;
part OF the ritccons's fit Hc is fon-
: of grain, and il there is field Of corr
IS or buckwheat near his den, he is prett,
ID certain to visit it each dark night. A:
q in his other foragings, the raccoon i:
- adept in picking out the finest ears O
r. corn or the best sheaves Of grain. Ir
A cornfields where a raccoon is foraging
y you will notice numerous ears OF corr
~ that are partly husked They were re
r jected bvt he raccoon after his def
n paws had examined them. and most O
" them ore unripe or othrwise unfit TO
use He rarely makes mistakes in Sc
Letting food.
, In winter the raccoon seldom
n forages. He leaves his den only whe,
" there is thaw or mild weather. Hun
ger sometimes causes him to eat decay
;. ed food. hu' Nor the most part the rae
Il coon is very careful in the matter o
II diet.
The raccoon is hne for food wher
properly cooked, and his pelt is also O
n value.' The inexperienced often com
plains that raccoon flesh has a strons
q taste This is caused by improper
:. dressing Vt can be prevented by care
!. fully removing all the nodules under thu
y forearms. and by soaking the meat i.