How to Breed Raccoons

Raccoons can be found across Northern America, from wooded forests to residential neighborhoods. Yet for as common as the animals are in the wild, they are not typically found in households as pets. The animals almost never shed their wild side and are hard to tame. However, if you still want to breed the animals in captivity, it can be done. You'll have to make the raccoons comfortable before introducing the male and female during their mating season.

Things You'll Need

  • Two raccoon pens
  • Food
  • Water
  • Elevated nest
  • Nesting material
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up two separate pens, one for the male and one for the female raccoon. Male raccoons are solitary creatures and prefer to live alone until it's time to breed. These habitats should be at least 6-by-8 feet large, as well as a 3 feet tall.

      Create the four corners of each pen by burying solid wood posts in the ground 2 to 2.5 feet deep. Cover the outsides of the pen with a sturdy material the animals won't be able to chew through, such as chicken wire or chain links. Raccoons are known to dig, so layer the bottom of the pen with mesh wire, too, as well as the top of the pen.

      Make sure both animals have shelter in the pen where they can stay warm and feel safe. Provide each animal with an overturned wooden box, which should have an opening large enough for the raccoons to fit through. Provide some hay, dried leaves or old blankets the animals can use as bedding.

    • 2

      Keep the raccoons healthy. These animals are omnivores so give them a diverse diet. Corn, fish, chicken, fruits and nuts are all foods the animals might find naturally, and are meals they should enjoy. Provide water for the raccoons to drink and in which they can wash their food. Also, keep their habitats clean of debris and waste. Most raccoons will relieve themselves in one area of the pen, so ensure you keep that space clean. Finally, consult a veterinarian before beginning the breeding process to ensure the animals are free of disease or genetic maladies.

    • 3

      Create a breeding nest for the female raccoon. This should be a wooden box large enough to fit her and a litter of raccoons. Keep it raised off the ground and ensure it has a roof or lid. Provide straw or fibers that the female can use to build a nest in the box.

    • 4

      Introduce the male and female raccoons to breed when it's their mating season in your region. In northern parts of North America, the animals breed in late January and early February, while animals in the rest of the country tend to breed in March.

    • 5

      Allow the raccoons to breed. Remove the male after a week or two of their time together. He shouldn't be in the same pen when the liter is born. A raccoon's gestation period is around 63 days.