Raccoons

Habitat: Raccoons are highly adaptable and can thrive in various environments, including forests, urban areas, and suburban neighborhoods. They often den in tree hollows, abandoned burrows, or in human-made structures like attics or crawl spaces.
Behavior: Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, though they may occasionally be active during the day. They are omnivores, feeding on a wide range of foods, including fruits, nuts, insects, small mammals, bird eggs, and human garbage. They are excellent climbers and swimmers.
Social Structure: Raccoons are generally solitary animals, except during the breeding season or when mothers are caring for their young. They communicate using a variety of vocalizations, including purring, chittering, and growling.

Raccoons can carry several diseases, some of which can pose risks to humans and other animals. Here are some of the most notable diseases associated with raccoons:

Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is typically fatal once symptoms appear. Raccoons are one of the primary carriers of rabies in North America. Contact with the saliva or nervous tissue of an infected animal can transmit the virus to humans and other mammals through bites or scratches.
Baylisascaris Procyonis (Raccoon Roundworm): Raccoons can carry a parasitic roundworm called Baylisascaris procyonis in their intestines. The eggs of this roundworm are shed in raccoon feces, which can contaminate soil and surfaces. Accidental ingestion or inhalation of these eggs can lead to serious neurological problems, including blindness and death, especially in children.
Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through contact with water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, including raccoons. Symptoms in humans can range from mild flu-like illness to severe complications affecting the kidneys, liver, and other organs.