The Raccoon: Description of the Perceived "Animal Bandit"

This is Leopold the Great. He is the antagonist in my book the Gauntlet of Power, Resurrection. Leopold is based off of the raccoon. He would probably refer to himself as "The Greatest of All Animal Bandits". As Uncle Matthew might say "Only Time Will Tell".

Raccoons are medium-sized mammals with chubby, pear-shaped bodies. They are  gray, silver, and snowy white all over. Across the eyes, there's an appearance of what looks like a black ‘bandit’s mask’. White patches appear on the forehead and muzzle, and a rusty trace of color to the shoulders. The long, bushy tail has four to seven dark bands.

They grow to about 23 to 37 inches (60 to 95 centimeters) and weigh 4 to 23 lbs. (1.8 to 10.4 kilograms), according to National Geographic.

It has dexterous hands. Each hand and foot has five fingers and toes. Common raccoons are stocky animals with short legs and small, rounded ears.

Its paws resemble human hands to some extent. Their toes are flexible helping them to grab, hold and pull things apart.

Raccoons are nocturnal. At night, their eyes become more prominent, making the “mask” even more distinctive. The raccoon’s fur also appears a bit lighter when spotlighted after dark, making it easier to be seen.

The eyes of raccoons have a structure called a tapetum lucidum that reflects light, allowing them to see well in the dark. When a bright light like a flashlight shines directly into their eyes, they shine red!

References:

Raccoon Facts

Raccoon Bio

Facts About Raccoons

How To Get Rid Of Raccoons

What Do Raccoons Look Like

More Facts About Raccoons

What is the atmosphere like in most caves?

Unlike the surface environment that is very changeable, cave environments are constant. It is a world of total darkness, constant temperature and high humidity. The animals that live in caves must not only adapt to these conditions, they must live in an environment where there is very little to eat.

The quality of cave air is usually good. The air’s often cool temperature gives it a fresh feeling many people enjoy. Doctors in several countries recommend Speleotherapy for several ailments, occasionally prescribing sitting in a cave to breathe the air.

Karst caves formed in carbonate rocks (limestone, dolomite, and marble) occasionally have slightly elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the air. As water and air move down through fractures in the rock into a cave, they carry carbon dioxide generated in the soil and released by plants through their roots. The typical levels of carbon dioxide are low and not noticed by visitors.

On occasion and usually in certain geologic areas, the levels of carbon dioxide are high enough to cause discomfort. In rare circumstances, carbon dioxide can reach dangerous concentrations. Because air with high concentrations of carbon dioxide is heavier than normal air, it concentrates in deeper sections of caves, and the presence of higher than normal carbon dioxide is usually noticed readily in shallower areas.

The significant presence of other gases in caves is uncommon to rare. Examples include methane from the decomposition of large volumes of organic material which washed into a cave, ammonia from large deposits of bat guano, and a variety of possible gases associated with geothermal areas.

The temperature in caves tends to stay the same year-round, because they’re underground and not affected by surface weather patterns.

The temperature of a cave is usually close to the average annual temperature for the region where it’s located. For example, caves in Texas can be as warm as 70º F. Caves in Missouri might be between 55º F and 60º F. Caves in Wisconsin might be a chilly 50º F.

In the summer, there is almost no airflow. In the winter, cold air penetrates along the entrance shaft and must exit to the surface.

Air pressure inside a cave always tries to equalize with the outside air pressure. If air pressure outside the cave is greater, air moves into the cave and vice versa. Also, winter air is colder and thus denser than cave air, moving down cave floors and pushing warmer air out of a cave along with the ceiling.

References

The Biology of Caves

Cave Climates 

How cool are caves?

How do caves breathe?

The Jewel Cave

There are many different types of caves. Today, the focus will be on The Jewel Cave.

Beneath the Black Hills of South Dakota lies the fascinating underground world of Jewel Cave. The view delights, perplexes, and lures you to want to further explore. The chamber's decorated with glittering calcite crystals and a variety of beautiful, colorful, and rare formations. The vast and intricate maze-like network of passages make Jewel Cave world famous. 

Jewel Cave is now known to be the third-longest cave system in the world, with more than 125 miles (200 km) of explored passages. Guided tours are offered in the main visitor area.

The caverns consist of a series of chambers joined by narrow passages. They are noted for their jewel-like calcite crystals, including nailhead and dogtooth spar, which are found throughout the cave. When illuminated, these incrustations sparkle like gems. Stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, draperies, frostwork, and other limestone formations also are present in the cave. The caves are home to nine species of bats, five of which are permanent residents. Elk, white-tailed deer, coyotes, and birds inhabit the ponderosa pine forest that covers the surface.

Exploration of Jewel Cave began about 1900 when Frank and Albert Michaud, South Dakota prospectors, and their friend Charles Bush heard wind rushing through a hole in rocks in Hell Canyon. Enlarging the hole they found a cave full of sparkling crystals. They filed a mining claim on the "Jewel Lode" but found no valuable minerals. Instead they tried turning the cave into a tourist attraction. The business was not a success, but the cave attracted attention, and Jewel Cave National Monument was proclaimed as part of the National Park System in 1908 to protect the small but extraordinarily beautiful cave.

Fifty years later exploration of the cave intensified. Led by the work of husband and wife team Herb and Jan Conn, modern cavers have discovered new wonders and explored more and more miles of passages. Today, the cave is among the world's longest and is renowned for its variety of formations.

The physical and mental challenges of cave exploration address a deep-seated human desire to venture beyond the known into the frontier. Exploring cave passages where no one has ever been before is certainly exciting, and it also provides information essential for managing both cave and surface resources.

Those wishing to participate in the exploration of Jewel Cave must have prior caving experience, possess a strong cave conservation ethic, be able to fit through tight spaces, and have the endurance for long caving trips.

The elevation range of Jewel Cave spans 832 feet. This is its official "depth." The highest point in the cave is 5,410 feet above sea level, and the lowest point is at 4,578 feet.

The cave's depth below the surface varies greatly, due to the thickness of overlying rock layers and characteristics of the surface topography. The cave intersects the surface in Hell Canyon, at the only natural entrance. The deepest point in the cave is 749 feet below the surface.

References:

Jewel Cave National Monument

Jewel Cave Exploration

Jewel Cave History

Jewel Cave Explore Parks