The Rockin' Raccoon Quiz

2. Calvin Coolidge had some unconventional presidential pets. In addition to a bobcat named Smokey and a donkey named Ebenezer, he had a pair of raccoons named:

• Horace & Rebecca.
  That's right! Horace and Rebecca. Other presidents have had a parrot, an alligator, and a goat. Raccoons are highly adaptable to civilization and those in captivity have been known to live up to 12 years. When they aren't living in the White House, North American raccoons can be found mostly in wooded areas, feeding along lakes and streams. They make their homes in cavities in trees, logs, and rocky areas. (They are excellent climbers.)
• Mr. & Mrs. Squiggles.
  Nope. He named them Horace and Rebecca. Other presidents have had a parrot, an alligator, and a goat. Raccoons are highly adaptable to civilization and those in captivity have been known to live up to 12 years. When they aren't living in the White House, North American raccoons can be found mostly in wooded areas, feeding along lakes and streams. They make their homes in cavities in trees, logs, and rocky areas. (They are excellent climbers.)
• George and Martha.
  Nope. He named them Horace and Rebecca. Other presidents have had a parrot, an alligator, and a goat. Raccoons are highly adaptable to civilization and those in captivity have been known to live up to 12 years. When they aren't living in the White House, North American raccoons can be found mostly in wooded areas, feeding along lakes and streams. They make their homes in cavities in trees, logs, and rocky areas. (They are excellent climbers.)

3. A raccoon's diet consists of:

• Leafy vegetation.
  No, raccoons eat EVERYTHING. They're omnivorous. They go for fish, frogs, a few small mammals, birds, and eggs. Hey, there's even a South American species that eats crab! Also on the menu are large amounts of grains, seeds, acorns, other nuts, and fruits. And, of course, any tasty leftovers in your garbage. (Hold the doggy bag!)

  Our masked friends have been known to prey on domestic animals (yikes!), and they often help themselves to our vegetable gardens. But they also destroy harmful insects while they're at it. And it's pretty hard to beat that rabies rap, but raccoons have some neat habits: They frequently wash what they eat!

• Mostly nuts and insects.
  No, raccoons eat EVERYTHING. They're omnivorous. They go for fish, frogs, a few small mammals, birds, and eggs. Hey, there's even a South American species that eats crab! Also on the menu are large amounts of grains, seeds, acorns, other nuts, and fruits. And, of course, any tasty leftovers in your garbage. (Hold the doggy bag!)

  Our masked friends have been known to prey on domestic animals (yikes!), and they often help themselves to our vegetable gardens. But they also destroy harmful insects while they're at it. And it's pretty hard to beat that rabies rap, but raccoons have some neat habits: They frequently wash what they eat!

• Just about anything.
  Yep, raccoons eat EVERYTHING. They're omnivorous. They go for fish, frogs, a few small mammals, birds, and eggs. Hey, there's even a South American species that eats crab! Also on the menu are large amounts of grains, seeds, acorns, other nuts, and fruits. And, of course, any tasty leftovers in your garbage. (Hold the doggy bag!)

  Our masked friends have been known to prey on domestic animals (yikes!), and they often help themselves to our vegetable gardens. But they also destroy harmful insects while they're at it. And it's pretty hard to beat that rabies rap, but raccoons have some neat habits: They frequently wash what they eat!

4. During the winter months, North American raccoons:

• Hibernate.
  Nope, they don't hibernate: their metabolism is normal during their sleep and they wake easily. But they sleep a lot during the cold spells. During the rest of the year, these nocturnal critters are quite active -- at night.

  Migrating south is not an option for raccoons; they tend to live their lives within a range of 200 to 900 acres.

• Sleep through cold spells in their dens.
  Exactly. They don't hibernate: their metabolism is normal during their sleep and they wake easily. But they sleep a lot during the cold spells. During the rest of the year, these nocturnal critters are quite active -- at night.

  Migrating south is not an option for raccoons; they tend to live their lives within a range of 200 to 900 acres.

• Migrate south.
  Nope, migrating south is not an option for raccoons; they tend to live their lives within a range of 200 to 900 acres. Nor do they hibernate: their metabolism is normal during their sleep and they wake easily. What they do is sleep a lot during the cold spells. During the rest of the year, these nocturnal critters are quite active -- at night.

5. When it comes to tail rings, raccoons have:

• About six of them.
  Yep, you've got it! Most raccoons have six black rings that completely encircle the tail.
• The number varies from raccoon to raccoon.
  Nope. Most raccoons have six black rings that completely encircle the tail.
• Over ten of them.
  Nope. Most raccoons have six black rings that completely encircle the tail.