Mary Finley, age 10, of Lansing, Mich., for her question:

WHY DO RACCOONS WASH THEIR FOOD BEFORE EATING IT?

Contrary to popular belief, our furry little black masked friends do not wash their food before eating. True, a raccoon may dip his tasty crayfish, worm or fish in water, but he isn't really washing it. Actually the raccoon has a very keen sense of touch and loves to investigate objects by feeling them. Since he can feel moist objects better than dry ones, he frequently dips them in any available water--clean or dirty.

Raccoons love to eat and they are not too choosy about their menu. Nuts, acorns, frogs, turtle eggs, insects--these are fine until corn ripens in nearby fields. Better yet is raiding a garbage pail in the middle of the night. Smart and full of mischief, raccoons will locate a tasty meal with little difficulty, whether they live in the wild or as someone's playful pet.