Evening star., 1944-04-28
This and That
By Charles e.. TrdceDeH.
apATDrAy We

FAlHFAA, va.
"A few days ago, while walking
through the woods, ran across a small
animal with small eyes, small ears, gray
fur and broad bushy tail. i
1T was about one foot long, short front
feet, long back feet. It both sprang and
ran. DOVE have beavers In this section?
Was this beaver? tEN f
Yours truly, G. c. T."
Our correspondents animal probably
was a raccoon.
Beavers are brown, and have broad
spatulate tails. They are large, weighing
as much as so pounds, and being about
AZ inches long.
Measurements Of raccoons vary con-
siderably. An average length Of a full
grown adult will be about 80 inches. The
tail will run about 10 inches long. It is
a bushy tail, ringed as neatly as any
tiger cats.
The coon, as 1t is universally known,
Is one of our most interesting animals.
Specimens may be seen in the National
Geological Park, but few Of them live
in the suburban sections.
Recently one was caught in Chevy
Chase, Md.
1t had been seen in hollow tree, and
later was caught while drinking out of
fish pool.
Coons love the woods, almost as much
as squirrels do. Wherever there are
trees, there are likely to be raccoons.
They like to sun themselves on the
branches. Out at the ZOO they may be
seen lazily enjoying life aloft, peering
down through the black mask which
goes across the eyes.
This is one Of their most distinctive
features, next to the ringed tail.
They are good fishermen, and If seen
near goldfish pool may be suspected
of having designs on the swimmers.
Their diet, however is quite varied.
A coon will eat anything from potato
peelings to soft coal. How do we know
this? Because we had a pet coon once.
1t was long time ago, but we have
never forgotten
raccoon will eat poultry, birds, mice,
eggs, frogs and their eggs, various mus
sells, even insects. 1t will eat nuts,
fruits and vegetables.
Nocturnal in habits, this has led to
the famous coon hunts" long a popu-
lar feature of rural America.
In the pioneer days, coonskins were
regarded as money. Coonskin caps were
held in high regard, and even today
fetch good price.
From the sport of coon hunting has
arisen the coon dog, so-called
There is even race of coon cats, q
variety OF the domestic species.
The raccoon is a alternating animal
and this habit is one of several which
make some naturalistS call it the little
brother of the bear"
One of the most interesting habits OF
the animal is that of washing its food
before eating.
AS pet, it makes one of the best. but
never becomes AS tame as the cat or dog
Always there will be residue of wild
ness in its nature.
1t is something of a thief. and will
steal food, even when there is no neces-
stty for doing so. When kept as a pet, II
must be chained most of the time
Specialists say that no raccoon will eat
meat without first washing it himself
if his owner tries to do the job for him
he will resent it and wash the meat al
over. again before he eats it.
If a trap is used to catch the animal
the device must be placed under water
Hunting with dogs at night always has
been the favorite method Of capturing
| it.
Its capture by hunters is due mostly
| to the animals love for trees. Invariably
| 1t will take to this refuge, and will re.
main there even when the tree Is GU
| down.
Probably there is no other small ami
NAL in America which has been as n,ucr
prosecuted as the raccoon. It deserves
better Of US, because It ia rea
| American.