Raccoons are thought to be mischievous, not only because they are very curious animals but also because they wear a distinctive mask around their eyes. This mask of black fur runs across their eyes, bordered by a white (or near-white) fur line above and below the black fur. This mask is very characteristic of raccoons in general, but may vary from animal to animal. However, as a raccoon ages, the mask becomes lighter in color. A geriatric raccoon will have a gray mask rather than the black that is typical. Viewed quickly, it will appear that the raccoon has no mask at all. This is not typically seen in the wild because most wild raccoons do not live to enjoy their senior years due to disease and predators (including humans and cars).
To hear the sound of a raccoon's locator call, click here --->
To hear the sound of a raccoon's trill, click here --->
