When early spring arrives, flowers start blooming around. This is the time of the year for baby raccoons, adorable nocturnal animals. Even if they are adorable, you would want them to leave if they are nesting in your attic.
What time of the year are raccoon babies born? Raccoons mate in late winter and baby raccoons are typically born around spring between March and April. However, if the mother’s first baby raccoon did not survive, she may give birth to another one in June. There are also Northern raccoons that give birth from January to March.
Spring is undoubtedly one of the hopeful seasons since days are getting warmer and summer approaches. Aside from the gradual blooming of flowers, this is also the season for baby raccoons to emerge.
Read on to learn more about baby raccoons and how to get rid of them.
What Are Baby Raccoons Called?
The baby raccoons are called kits or cubs. These two names are widely used depending on your location.
A male raccoon is called a boar; they are a little bit bigger than a female raccoon. On the other hand, the female raccoon is called a sow.
A group of these nocturnal animals is called a nursery or a gaze. Additionally, a mother raccoon usually gives birth to about 2 or 3 babies.
When Do Raccoons Have Babies?
Spring is lovely because of the blooming flowers and grasses, as well as the increased population of creatures such as raccoons.
Typically, raccoons give birth in early spring between April and May. However, northern raccoons give birth from January to March. The Southern raccoons tend to have babies around April to July.
Raccoons can only give birth to one litter a year with approximately 2 to 5 babies in it. When a mother raccoon’s litter does not survive, she may give birth to another one as late as June.
Raccoons may give birth at different times of the year, but they are more likely to have babies during late winter or early spring.
Do Raccoons Have Babies in the Fall?
Raccoons cannot have babies in the fall because it is the season when they search for warm, safe dens. The raccoon mating season is the first six months of the year. There are only six weeks of gestation, making it impossible to give birth in the fall.
How Long Do Baby Raccoons Stay In the Nest?
Baby raccoons stay in the nest for 8 to 9 weeks. After birth, raccoons are unable to see and hear. In this case, they are dependent on their mothers for about three weeks. It takes 4 to 6 weeks before raccoons can stand on their own. By then, the mother raccoon will help her baby to forage.
When the baby raccoon reaches 2 to 3 months, it will leave its nest and hunt for food. Then, the mother raccoon will assist them.
How Long Do Baby Raccoons Stay With Their Mother?
Baby raccoons will stay with their mother until they reach ten months to one year. Males are more independent than females and tend to leave their mothers earlier. Baby raccoons can leave their mother as early as eight months old.
Even though they may be independent already and can go on their own, they will still build dens near their mothers. Male raccoons will likely move their houses a little further away from their mother.
How Do Raccoons Carry Their Babies?
When the baby raccoons are good enough to forage, mother raccoons usually guide them.
She carries each of the babies in her mouth one at a time. Additionally, she will bite the back part of the baby raccoons when she wants to move them. She will carry each of the babies to different places until they are vigorous enough to move on their own.
What Do Baby Raccoons Eat?
Raccoons are fascinating animals. They are very active, playful, and curious. Some would take them as pets, too. If you wish to pet a raccoon, there are a variety of foods that they can eat. However, you cannot purchase formulated feeds for them.
To give them a balanced diet, you must know what foods they eat in the wild. In this way, you will know what they like and prepare the right food for them.
In the Wild
Most raccoons’ diet in the wild includes worms, insects, plants, and fruits. Their diet may vary from season to season depending on the available food in the environment.
Raccoons do have a fondness for eating nuts and fruits though they will eat anything available. They forage for any foods that are functional in their living environment.
As a Pet
Your homemade meal may not provide nutrients that are the same as what they can get in the wild. That is why you need to ensure a proper meal with jam-packed nutrients is provided.
You can give your raccoon grain-free dog food. Also, you can add supplementary foods like eggs, vegetables, and fruits. To offer double enrichment, you can give the worms and insects. Though raccoons love to eat nuts and seeds, they must be given to them as a treat because it contains fats.
How Fast Do Baby Raccoons Grow?
Raccoons are fast-growing animals. When mother raccoons give birth to them, they will be dependent on their mother for about three weeks. They are dependent on their mother because they are born blind. Their eyes will only open three weeks after birth.
When they reach 4 to 6 weeks, they will be able to stand on their own. They will leave the nest when they are 2 to 3 months old to find their own.
As they have grown into the adolescence stage, they will typically leave their mother. This happens as early as eight months to one year of their lives.
Are Baby Raccoons Dangerous?
Baby raccoons are dangerous. If you pick them up, expect them to be startled and try to bite or scratch you. That is why if you want to remove them from your house, like in your attic humanely, it is best to seek assistance from professionals.
Though baby raccoons are not born with rabies, their mothers may have infected them. Baby raccoons may not be safe because they might have acquired viruses or diseases from their mothers.
Related: Do Raccoons Attack Humans and Our Pets (Cats, Dogs, and Others)? | Information and Facts
How to Get Rid of Baby Raccoons?
If you want to get rid of baby raccoons, you will need to get rid of their mother since they are independent of her. Some homemade repellents can deter them. You can make pepper sprays, ammonia, and onion repellents since they don’t like their smell.
Additionally, you can also use lights during the night to deter them. They are nocturnal, and they don’t want to have contact with lights.
Raccoons are legally protected; they can only be trapped and transported by a person in authority.
Related: What Scent Will Keep Raccoons Away? | Information & Facts
List of Sources
Raccoons. (2016). Utah State University – Extension.
Raccoon. Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Raccoon (Procyon lotor). WildlifeNYC.
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