Our species this week is the Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor). Easily recognized, the Common Raccoon boasts a distinctive ringed-tail and facial markings that resemble a black mask. They are also characterized by their extremely dexterous front paws, which allow them to handle food and other objects. If you’ve ever had an encounter with a raccoon at home or on your campsite, you may have noticed that they are omnivorous creatures and will consume almost any food item. They typically prefer corn, fruits, nuts, and crayfish, but their diet depends on season and availability of food items — a raccoon living in the wild would have a much different diet than one living in the suburbs. This is why it’s important to dispose of your garbage properly and to not leave unattended food out while you’re camping, or else you may receive a visit from one of these critters. If you have any funny stories of raccoon visits while camping here at Murphys Point, feel free to share them with us in the comments!