RACCOON RAISING.
The raccoon is closely allied to the bears, although much smaller. Like
them it possesses an omnivorous appetite, is plantigrade, and hibernates
during cold weather. It is found throughout the Southern, Central and
Eastern States, and in Southern Ontario and Nova Scotia. It is also
found in good numbers on the Pacific coast, northward into British
Columbia; but they are found in greatest numbers in the extreme South of
the United States, and especially in Florida, Louisiana and the lowlands
of Arkansas and Texas.
Their natural home is in the heavily timbered parts, but they are also
found in the sparsely wooded bottom lands of the Central States.
They den, as a rule, in hollow trees, well up from the ground, and
seldom if ever in a tree which has a continuous hollow and an opening at
the bottom, preferring a hollow, broken off limb, or a hole in the
trunk, high up on the tree. In some places they den in natural caves in
the rocks, and in the western part of their range, it is said that they
sometimes occupy dens in some high and dry bank of earth. During the
mating season the males travel considerably, and will, when daylight
approaches, seek a place of rest in any hollow tree that is to be found,
or failing to find this, may spend the day in a hollow log or under a
stump.
The mating season comes mainly, late in February or early in March, and
the young, from four to six in number, are born in April and the
beginning of May. They remain with the parents for some time during the
summer, but will find a den for themselves as soon as possible. However,
they will be found, the first season, in the near vicinity of the
parents' den.
The food of the coon is variable, to conform with conditions of
different sections, but wherever found, they feed on both vegetable and
animal food. Fish, frogs, crawfish, clams, eggs of birds, and turtles;
water snails, wild fruits, such as grapes and berries, nuts, acorns,
etc., are all eaten with a relish. They are especially fond of corn when
in the milky state, and in late summer they feed on it extensively. They
are fond of poultry, also of honey, and will dig out the nests of bumble
bees when they find them, for the sake of the little bit of "sweet"
which is found therein.
They are nocturnal animals and are seldom seen by daylight. In their
travels they follow the streams mostly, and catch fish by feeling under
the stones in shallow water. Whenever possible, they wash their food
before eating.
The raccoon has a peculiar cry, which is heard sometimes, on still
nights, during the summer. It is a quavering note somewhat resembling
that of the screech owl, but lower and softer, and seems to come from a
distance, though really close by. To one inexperienced in the ways of
this animal, the cry would not be recognized.
The fur of the raccoon meets with ready sale at fair prices, and there
is also sale for the flesh in many markets. There is considerable
difference in color in individual animals, some of them being very dark,
and others quite pale. Of course the northern animals are more heavily
furred than those of the south.
The darker and larger specimens, as a rule, are secured in the northern
states--New York, Pennsylvania, Northern Ohio, Northern Indiana,
Northern Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Northwest. The
greatest numbers, but smaller and lighter colored, are secured from the
southern states, those bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, Tennessee,
Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky.
While raccoon can be raised in nearly all parts of America, the best
furred specimens can only be raised where the climate is productive of
good fur,--say north of 40 degrees. This would be on a line passing
through Philadelphia, south of Pittsburg, just north of Columbus,
through Central Indiana and Illinois, northern Missouri, boundary
between Kansas and Nebraska, north of Denver, and on to the Pacific
Ocean.
It is not meant that coon cannot be profitably raised south of this line
indicated, for they can. The chances, however, are that far south of the
line mentioned, the skins would not be as valuable and being nearer the
coon-producing section, there would not be as ready a market for the
carcasses.
The coon raiser should secure good dark males and females for breeding
purposes, from northern sections. If unable to do this, a good male or
two crossed with the females, would help to produce larger and darker
animals. This is important, as the larger and darker the pelt, the more
valuable, and the larger the carcass the more it brings.
That raccoons do well in captivity is well known from the many kept in
zoos, parks, etc. Countless numbers have been caught while young, when
they soon become tame and interesting pets. Even those caught when
grown, soon become accustomed to their owners and keepers. They can be
handled and become amusing pets. They know strangers and will often put
their paws over their eyes and look between their toes, thinking
perhaps, that the stranger cannot see them, while their paws are over
their eyes.
Large numbers of raccoons could be raised by fencing in a piece of
woods, embracing a few acres, with a creek running through. If the fence
was considerable distance from the edge of the woods, it is doubtful if
the animals would make much effort to escape. The places they would be
apt to frequent the most, would be where the stream entered and left the
enclosure. At these places the fence should be extra high, strong and
secure.
The raccoon and opossum farmer have a double advantage where their
"farm" is situated near a city. First, if the fur farm is one containing
a large number of animals, the supplying of food will be quite a problem
and the city offers a means of plenty and cheap food for your animals,
such as offals from slaughter houses and other feed. Second, the city
offers a market for the meat at "killing time".
While raccoon will eat decayed meat to some extent, it should be
furnished them fresh, in which condition it is much better for them.
Most animals will eat carrion, yet it is doubtful if it is advisable to
feed when in such condition. Putrid flesh is unhealthy and some claim,
causes fur-bearing animals to become affected with mange.
Raccoon are naturally a clean animal, and in their wild state are
particular that their food is clean. They seldom, if ever, eat left-over
food or flesh that has become tainted.
[Illustration: Barrel Shelter for Female and Young.]
That raccoon raising promises well is borne out from the fact that they
are easily handled, eat a variety of food easily secured, and their fur
and meat both have a ready cash market. The pelt of a full grown and
dark raccoon is worth from $1.00 to $2.00, depending upon the section;
to this add from 40c to 75c for the carcass and it will be seen that the
raccoon brings to its owner $1.40 to $2.50 or upwards. This price is for
the better grade. The smaller and lighter colored skins from the more
southerly sections, will perhaps only bring two-thirds as much--75 cents
to $1.50 for the pelts and 25 to 50 cents for the carcass.
At what other "branch of farming" is there greater profit? No one is
going to become immensely rich "at coon raising" in a few years, but if
they enter the business and give the same attention and care to it that
they would to poultry, sheep, horses and cattle, there is reason to
believe that the profits will be as large if not larger. Again, the
person who loves the handling of fur-bearing animals will be making his
living at the business he enjoys most.
[Illustration: Fur Farm on Open Ground.]
Those who expect to raise coon in a small enclosure, should have the
wire turned in several feet at the top, or the chances are they will
follow along the under side to the edge and thus escape. In the
enclosure for raccoon, the strip of tin around the fence some three or
four feet high is strongly recommended. There should be some logs, dens,
and low, branchy trees for the animals to play in is to their liking.
The more homelike their enclosure, the sooner they become contented.
This means that they grow faster, which is all to the financial interest
of the coon raiser.
An enclosure of several acres for coon, taking in trees suitable for
dens, could be used for fox raising as well. The coon would raise their
young in the "den trees" and therefore would not bother the foxes, as
those having young would be in pens. The male foxes having access to the
entire enclosure might steal the feed for the female coon left at the
roots of the den trees. Should there be trouble on this point, the food
could be placed on a platform against the body of the tree out of reach
of the foxes.