The raccoon (also spelled racoon), scientifically known as Procyon lotor, is a medium-sized nocturnal mammal native to North America and commonly called the common raccoon, North American raccoon, or northern raccoon. It is easily recognized by its distinctive black facial “mask,” pointed muzzle, grayish-brown dense fur, and bushy tail marked with several dark rings. Highly adaptable and intelligent, raccoons have extremely dexterous front paws that allow them to manipulate objects and forage effectively; their species name lotor (Latin for “washer”) refers to their habit of dipping food in water. Other names include the colloquial “coon,” the popular nickname “trash panda” (for their urban scavenging), Spanish mapache, French raton laveur (“washing rat”), and German Waschbär (“wash-bear”). Raccoons are omnivores found in forests, wetlands, and cities across much of the continent, where their clever, opportunistic nature has made them both familiar and sometimes notorious neighbors to humans.
Description (Physical Characteristics)
The raccoon is a medium-sized, stocky mammal with a bear-like body, short legs, and a plantigrade (flat-footed) gait. Adults typically measure 40–70 cm (16–28 in) in head-body length, with a bushy tail of 20–40 cm (usually around 25 cm / 10 in). Shoulder height is 23–30 cm (9–12 in). Weight varies widely by region, sex, season, and food availability—generally 5–12 kg (11–26 lb), though extremes range from about 2 kg to over 26 kg (4–57 lb). Northern populations and males tend to be larger; some northern animals can store up to 50% body fat for winter.
Fur is dense and grayish to reddish-brown or buff, with a lighter underside; the dense underfur provides insulation. The most distinctive features are the black “bandit” facial mask (framed by white fur around the eyes and snout), rounded ears often edged in white, and a ringed tail with 4–10 black bands (tip usually dark). Front paws are highly dexterous, resembling slender human hands with five fingers and sensitive vibrissae (whiskers) on the digits; hind feet also have five toes. Raccoons are excellent climbers and capable swimmers.
Sexual dimorphism is moderate: males are typically 10–30% heavier than females.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Procyonidae |
| Genus | Procyon |
| Species | Procyon lotor |
Common names include northern raccoon, common raccoon, and coon. It is the largest and most widespread member of the procyonid family (which also includes coatis, kinkajous, and ringtails).
Behavior
Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, with peak activity often before midnight, though they may forage diurnally when food is abundant or conditions favor it (e.g., low tide). They are intelligent and have excellent problem-solving abilities and long-term memory (solving tasks and retaining solutions for at least three years in studies). Their sensitive forepaws allow precise manipulation of objects, unlocking containers, and foraging by touch.
They are largely solitary outside the breeding season and mother-young groups. Females raise litters alone; several individuals may share dens in cold weather or congregate at rich food sources. Home ranges vary widely (often 1–3 km in diameter, larger for males or in resource-poor areas). They den in tree cavities, hollow logs, burrows of other animals, rock crevices, brush piles, abandoned buildings, attics, culverts, or storm drains. In northern regions they enter periods of winter dormancy (not true hibernation), living off fat reserves and potentially losing significant body weight, while remaining metabolically active.
They are agile climbers that escape danger by ascending trees and are known for adaptability, including urban “nuisance” behaviors such as raiding trash. When threatened they can be aggressive.
Habitat
Preferred habitats are deciduous and mixed forests, especially near water (streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, marshes, swamps, and bottomland hardwoods). They thrive in areas offering den sites (tree cavities preferred for rearing young), food diversity, and water for drinking and foraging.
Due to high adaptability they occupy a wide range of environments: coastal marshes, mangroves, farmlands, prairies (favoring woodlots and wetlands), mountainous areas (generally below ~2,000 m), and especially urban/suburban settings where they use human structures and garbage. They avoid extensive open fields or pure pine forests when better options exist but can persist in diverse landscapes as long as water and shelter are available.
Range (Geographic Distribution)
Native range spans much of North and Central America: from southern Canada (Nova Scotia to British Columbia) across nearly the entire contiguous United States (absent or sparse in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains and Great Basin), through Mexico, and south to Panama.
They have been introduced outside this range, notably to parts of Europe (Germany, France, and others), the Caucasus, Japan, and some Caribbean islands (some of which host populations sometimes treated historically as distinct taxa). Multiple subspecies exist (around 20–22 recognized), varying mainly in size and coat details; the eastern raccoon (P. l. lotor) and Upper Mississippi Valley raccoon (P. l. hirtus) are among the most widespread.
Food Sources (Diet)
Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores—among the most flexible mammalian diets. Rough averages: ~40% invertebrates, ~33% plant material, ~27% vertebrates, with strong seasonal and local variation.
- Plant foods: Fruits (berries, grapes, cherries, apples, persimmons, etc.), nuts and acorns (especially important in fall/winter for fat storage), seeds, grains (notably corn), and other vegetation.
- Animal foods: Crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates, insects, worms, mollusks, frogs, fish, bird eggs, small mammals, birds, carrion, and occasionally reptiles.
- Human-associated: Garbage, pet food, crops, and garden produce are heavily exploited in urban and rural areas.
They forage by touch, often near water, and may dunk food (the species name lotor means “washer”), though this is more tactile exploration than true washing. Diet shifts with season: more animal matter in spring, soft mast (fruits) in summer, hard mast and high-calorie items in fall.
Additional Notes
Lifespan in the wild is typically short (often 2–3 years on average) due to predation, vehicles, hunting/trapping, and disease; captive individuals can live 20+ years. Primary predators include coyotes, bobcats, large owls, and alligators (in the south). Raccoons play ecological roles as seed dispersers and mesopredators and are highly successful due to intelligence and behavioral flexibility.
This report synthesizes established biological data on Procyon lotor. Populations are generally secure (IUCN Least Concern) across most of the native range owing to adaptability.