The raccoon or (Procyon Lotor) has earned itself the name the Masked Bandit, this is because it is distinguished by its black mask-like markings across its eyes.

The raccoon will typically lead a solitary lifestyle. It does not have the tendencies of a pack animal. But do they mate, So, when do raccoons mate? This article looks into it

Raccoons mate during the cooler months for temperate climates. This can happen as early as December and can also happen as late as June. They mate when they are sexually mature. For the female, this happens when she is ready to leave the den, for the mate this happens two years after birth.

When do raccoons mate?

The mating season for raccoons will fall in the cooler months for temperate climates. Some reports say as early as December and as late as June.

Breeding for the raccoon is an instinctual habit. That occurs as a natural result of encountering the opposite gender during the mating season.

A male raccoon will typically mate with multiple females in a season. The female raccoon will mate once per season with a male and raise her kits alone. The raccoon’s preoccupation with scourging for food keeps it from breeding during the warm months.

Outside of the mating season, you will not usually find females and males together. They do not form a familial structure in the way humans can.

The male will lead a solitary lifestyle. Raccoons, if needed, will form groups with others to defend their territory.

How do raccoons mate?

Racoon kits will show signs of independence more than a year after their birth. A female racoon is sexually mature when she is ready to leave the den. Males are old enough to mate two years after birth. During the mating season, the male will wonder with great effort looking for a female.

Usually, the male will face tough competition from other racoons for the opportunity to mate. The stronger male gets the opportunity to breed with as many females as he can.

Racoons have their own form of romance. Frolicking about & engaging in foreplay. They will engage in this activity for 3 to 4 days. Shrieks can be heard when the racoons are courting. These sounds are not from copulation, but responses from the female. The male will let out purring clicks as he tags after her. Their behaviour is not aggressive during courtship. They will pat each other’s faces with their paws. Then they will mate.

Where do raccoons have their babies?

Always an opportunist. The female racoon will find the best location to make a safe and warm den for her kits. That space might include

• The attic of your home. 
• Holes in trees.
• Abandoned vehicles.
• Hollowed out burrows from other animals.

They will typically stay close to a water source. If the female has found a safe and comfortable place for a den, she will continually use that space for years. Her pregnancy will last 65 days. After conception, the kits will remain with the mother for up to 14 months. Racoons may have more than one den that they will move in between freely every couple of days.

Do raccoons mate for life?

No racoons do not mate for life. More specifically they do not have one life partner. They do however have a pretty interesting mating routine. The habits between the male and female differ.

Some females have been observed to have one mating season. While some have been shown, like their male counterparts, to have multiple partners throughout their life span and season.

During a season, the male will continue to mate with different partners if he is able. The female will have her litter once. She typically remains monogamous for a season and will not mate again.

How are raccoon’s reared?

The kits will stay with their mother in the den for 13-14 months. The babies are born blind and deaf. They are solely dependent on the mother for the first 3 weeks of their life.

 The raccoons grow quickly. They will begin learning how to forage for food & gain some essential acrobatic skills from their mother along the way. The father does not stay to help with the young. He and like the males of the litter he will breed and will instinctively wander from the den for almost 12 miles to avoid inbreeding.

It is important for the kits to engage in playful activities. It is an essential aspect of their development that helps them understand how the world works.

Do raccoons breed with cats?

You would be surprised to find that they do breed with cats. It’s interesting for these two different species to come together. There is no solid evidence that a cat-racoon, crossbreed has ever been produced.

Some people look at the Maine Coon (a breed of cat) as evidence of this production. It is just a thought but if racoons develop relationships with cats maybe they are more akin to each other than present science might suggest.

Can a raccoon mate with a dog?

Naturally, one would wonder if it is possible for a dog to mate with a racoon if a cat can. After all, a dog is one of the most popular domesticated species. In an urban environment, some interaction between these two is inevitable. The answer is no. Those these animals have been known to form a rather good bond. There has not been any evidence that suggests mating has occurred.

People will often look at the ‘tanuki’. A breed of raccoon from japan. The tanuki is a part of the same family as foxes and wolves. Therefore, the resemblance to a canine. If you see a dog and a racoon frolicking around chances are, they have built a friendship and nothing more.

Conclusion:

 Like many creatures, the masked bandit will make time to mate, to ensure the survival of its species. It is surprising to learn the different approaches the males and females take to family life.  Racoons can act in strange ways sometimes. They will often mate with a species other than their own. You can safely assume there is no conscious reasoning in animal behaviour. Like when to mate or how. The behaviors they exhibit usually arise from natural instincts

If you’re interested in raccoons you may also be interested in these articles: when do raccoons come out, how high can raccoons jump, what can raccoons not eat, where do raccoons go during the day, where do raccoons sleep during the day, what do raccoons eat in winter, click the links to read more.