Raccoon Reproduction/ Development:
Females:
Female Raccoon's reach sexually maturity at the age of 1 . When ready for reproduction Trans-uterine migration occurs in the Raccoon where embryos conceived from eggs produced in one ovary migrate to the uterine horn. Ovulation in the Raccoon occurs after the copulation, "allowing the Raccoon to conserve metabolic energy on ovulation until mating occurs." The female than waits for the male (near or in a males den) to come and fertilize her eggs between the months of February-June (fertilization mostly happens in March). While mating the female releases eggs through her ovaries from her uterus, waiting to be fertilized by the males sperm. When a sperm and an egg have been fertilized it impregnates the female, fertilizing 3-7 or more eggs in one ejaculation.
After fertilization, the females gestation period last for about 63-67 days (with no help from the male due to lack of socialization between the male and female after fertilization), later giving live birth to 3-7 kits in 1 liter mainly in or during April- May. Raccoon's tend to give birth to 1 liter per year. Females take care of their young until they are ready to hunt on their own and are sexually mature. Raccoon's do receive parental care from their mothers but only until one of them dies.
Males:
Male Raccoon's are promiscuous animals when it comes to mating. "During the mating season, Raccoon males expand their home ranges for females as potential mates." Males will mate with more than one female during mating season and do not raise or have any involvement in the rearing of their young. Males are sexually mature around the age of 1 but choose to mate when they are two years old, to prepare for competition from older males. Males have a baculum which is "curved at the end to maintain penetration of the female more easier." Within the baculum are the testes where the epididymis is located and sperm is deposited. When mating the sperm is deposited through the epididymis from the baculum, fertilizing the 3-7 or more of the females eggs in 1 ejaculation.
Kits: Baby Raccoon's.
The stages of development for baby raccoons inside of the uterus is "The egg is present as a simple sac, that enlarges during the gestation period( no placental function). Then the yolk-sac develops around 20-23mm in diameter with folds closely apposed to those of the uterine surface." Finally the newborns are born and they attach to the females maternal pouch or the "teats" until their eyes open up. Their is no exact month or week when these stages occur due to "failure to experiment on Raccoons," but it is said that the gestation period of a raccoon is similar to a humans. The kits are born around 12-20 inches long and 12-16lbs. Baby raccoons are born with no sight until they are 18-24 days old. When they gain sight the mothers allow the kits to wonder around but within a close range just so that they become accustomed to their surroundings. The kits leave the den when they feel prepared to hunt on their own.
Female Raccoon's reach sexually maturity at the age of 1 . When ready for reproduction Trans-uterine migration occurs in the Raccoon where embryos conceived from eggs produced in one ovary migrate to the uterine horn. Ovulation in the Raccoon occurs after the copulation, "allowing the Raccoon to conserve metabolic energy on ovulation until mating occurs." The female than waits for the male (near or in a males den) to come and fertilize her eggs between the months of February-June (fertilization mostly happens in March). While mating the female releases eggs through her ovaries from her uterus, waiting to be fertilized by the males sperm. When a sperm and an egg have been fertilized it impregnates the female, fertilizing 3-7 or more eggs in one ejaculation.
After fertilization, the females gestation period last for about 63-67 days (with no help from the male due to lack of socialization between the male and female after fertilization), later giving live birth to 3-7 kits in 1 liter mainly in or during April- May. Raccoon's tend to give birth to 1 liter per year. Females take care of their young until they are ready to hunt on their own and are sexually mature. Raccoon's do receive parental care from their mothers but only until one of them dies.
Males:
Male Raccoon's are promiscuous animals when it comes to mating. "During the mating season, Raccoon males expand their home ranges for females as potential mates." Males will mate with more than one female during mating season and do not raise or have any involvement in the rearing of their young. Males are sexually mature around the age of 1 but choose to mate when they are two years old, to prepare for competition from older males. Males have a baculum which is "curved at the end to maintain penetration of the female more easier." Within the baculum are the testes where the epididymis is located and sperm is deposited. When mating the sperm is deposited through the epididymis from the baculum, fertilizing the 3-7 or more of the females eggs in 1 ejaculation.
Kits: Baby Raccoon's.
The stages of development for baby raccoons inside of the uterus is "The egg is present as a simple sac, that enlarges during the gestation period( no placental function). Then the yolk-sac develops around 20-23mm in diameter with folds closely apposed to those of the uterine surface." Finally the newborns are born and they attach to the females maternal pouch or the "teats" until their eyes open up. Their is no exact month or week when these stages occur due to "failure to experiment on Raccoons," but it is said that the gestation period of a raccoon is similar to a humans. The kits are born around 12-20 inches long and 12-16lbs. Baby raccoons are born with no sight until they are 18-24 days old. When they gain sight the mothers allow the kits to wonder around but within a close range just so that they become accustomed to their surroundings. The kits leave the den when they feel prepared to hunt on their own.