Canine distemper in a wild raccoon

Abstract

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a member of the Procyonidae family. This group comprises nine genera and eighteen species including the ring-tailed cat (Bassariscus astutus), the central american cacoinistle (Jientinkip suinichrasti), the coatimundi (Nasua nasua), the raccoon (Procyon lotor), the mountain coati (Nasuella. 0. olivacea), the kinkajou (Potus flavus), the olingo (Brassaricyon gabbii), the lesser panda (Ailurus fulgens), and the giant panda (Aliuropoda inelanoleuca). Widely distributed throughout North America, the raccoon's range encompasses southern Canada, most of North America and parts of Central America. For habitat, it prefers heavily wooded areas and dense underbrush where it makes dens in trees near sources of water. The encroachment of man on its natural habitat has not significantly effected the raccoon, which can also be found in abundance in suburban and urban settings feeding on garbage and living in attics, chimneys, parks and cemeteries. The raccoon is a nocturnal omnivor feeding, in the wild, on a variety of fish, frogs, small mammals, fruits, berries and seeds. Adults range in weight from 1.5 to 22 kg, attain a head- body length of 41.5 to 60.0 cm, and shoulder height of 25.5 to 30.4 cm. The breeding season lasts from January to June. Litter size ranges from one to seven cubs with an average of three to four.