General Information
Raccoons are native to Ohio and very adaptable. They can live in almost any habitat, and their populations are continuously growing. As a result of this population increase, diseases such as rabies and distemper have been spreading quickly through the raccoon population. However, it is a misconception that all raccoons have rabies. Although raccoons are usually nocturnal and most active at night, they can also be seen during the day. If a raccoon is not able to find enough food during the evening hours or a mother has young and needs to forage for extra food, it will be out during daylight hours. This does not mean the raccoon is unhealthy.
Meet Our Raccoon
Meeko
Meeko, an albino raccoon, was born in spring 2015. He was found in a factory in Ashland, Ohio, when workers were moving a large piece of machinery. The factory workers noticed he was alone and brought him to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Crestline, Ohio, called Wildlife Haven. The rehabilitators took care of the young raccoon until he was old enough to be on his own, but he soon became too tame to be released. The rehabilitators knew he would have a difficult time surviving in the wild because he was so reliant on people. For his safety, Meeko would have to spend the rest of his life in captivity. In October 2015, Meeko became a permanent resident at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Lifespan
Wild: 2–3 years
Captivity: 10–15 years
Fun Facts