Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons don't wash food for cleanliness; wetting their paws increases the tactile sensitivity of their nerve endings, allowing them to 'see' the food with their touch.
- Scientific name
- Procyon lotor
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Procyonidae › Procyon
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- urban
- Habitat
- Highly adaptable; prefers deciduous forests and wetlands but thrives in suburban and urban environments.
- Diet
- Opportunistic omnivore; eats fruits, nuts, insects, small mammals, eggs, aquatic invertebrates, and human refuse.
- Range
- North America, Central America, Europe (introduced), Japan (introduced)
- Size
- 40 to 70 cm in body length; 3.5 to 9 kg in weight.
- Lifespan
- 2-3 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity.
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Vehicle strikes, habitat fragmentation, trapping, and diseases like canine distemper and rabies.
- Safe to approach?
- Generally defensive rather than aggressive. Maintain a safe distance of at least 15 feet. Never feed or attempt to pet, as they can bite or scratch if cornered. They are primary carriers of rabies and roundworm. If bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and water immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
The raccoon (/rəˈkuːn/ or US: /ræˈkuːn/ ( listen), Procyon lotor ), sometimes spelled racoon , also known as the common raccoon , North American raccoon , northern raccoon ,and colloquially as coon , is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. The raccoon is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of 40 to 70 cm (16 to 28 in) and a body weight of 5 to 26 kg (11 to 57 lb). Its grayish coat mostly consists of dense underfur which insulates it against...
Photo: kent ozment, CC0, via iNaturalist
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