The raccoon is a clever, adaptable, medium-sized mammal native to North and Central America. Its dexterous hands and problem-solving skills let it open containers, doors and bins, making it a familiar and sometimes troublesome neighbour in cities.
Interesting facts
- The word ‘raccoon’ comes from a Powhatan word meaning ‘animal that scratches with its hands’.
- A black ‘mask’ across the eyes and a ringed tail make raccoons easy to recognise.
- In experiments, raccoons have remembered solutions to puzzles for up to three years.
- Urban raccoons are often larger and more numerous than rural ones.
- Raccoons released or escaped from fur farms now live wild across much of Germany.
- They can rotate their hind feet to climb down trees headfirst.
Behaviour
Raccoons are mostly nocturnal. They forage along streams and ponds, feeling for food underwater. Females and young live in loose groups, while males are more solitary.
Breeding and young
After about 63–65 days, females give birth to two to five kits in a tree hollow, chimney or attic. The young stay with their mother through their first summer and sometimes the winter.
Threats and conservation
Raccoons are abundant. They suffer from road deaths, hunting and diseases such as rabies and distemper. Introduced populations in Europe and Japan are considered invasive.
Where to see it
- Cities and suburbs across North America, especially Toronto
- Everglades National Park, Florida
- Wetlands and riverside forests throughout their range
- Parts of Germany, where they are now established
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
