26 Fascinating Facts About Raccoons

The raccoon is a charismatic furry mammal known for its nighttime mischief. You can easily recognize one with its infamous black mask and striped tail. They’re no strangers to urban areas. You’ll often see them rummaging through garbage for some scrumptious scraps. But there’s more to them than being nature’s bandits. Here are 26 fascinating facts about raccoons.

Raccoons are problem solvers

Their innocent appearance might be deceiving, but raccoons are intelligent and resourceful. They have exceptional problem-solving skills. Studies have demonstrated their ability to understand and manipulate complex locks. Raccoons can recall how to solve tasks even three years later, which means they have a great long-term memory.

Their black mask helps reduce glare

The black markings, or ‘mask’, around a raccoon’s eyes aren’t just for display. They have a useful function to them by absorbing incoming light and reducing glare. This helps them to see better in the dark. 

Their name means ‘washer’

The Powhatan word ‘araughcun’ gives the name ‘raccoon,’ which means ‘animal that scratches with its hands.’ They got this from their well-known behavior of appearing to ‘wash’ their food with their paws before eating.

Raccoons are colorblind

These furry animals are actually colorblind. Raccoons are dichromatic, which means they struggle to distinguish certain colors. They mainly see the world in shades of gray. 

Raccoons are native North Americans

Although they are a common sight across the continent, raccoons are originally from North America. They’re highly adaptable. They’ve adjusted to various environments, such as wetlands, forests, and even bustling cities.

Raccoons are also suburban residents

Raccoons do not only live exclusively in forests. They can also occupy suburbs and small towns. Some of them cleverly use houses and infrastructure for their lifestyles where they choose comfy spots like attics and chimneys for homes. They can even use storm sewers as their own personal subways.

They are nocturnal

Raccoons are nocturnal animals, which means they are most active during the night. They use this time as an opportunity to search for food and explore new territories. Although you can find some of them during the day, it’s something of a rare occurrence. 

They have enhanced tactile senses

Raccoons have a very good sense of touch that is thought to be better than other non-primate mammals. This allows them to detect subtle changes in their environment, which is helpful in their struggle for survival. 

They are sensitive to green light

The eyes of raccoons have been adapted specially to sense green light. This unique trait provides raccoons with an advantage in low light conditions.

They have a keen sense of smell

Raccoons might outshine dogs with their heightened sense of smell. This is vital for their communicative abilities, helping them detect threats, find food, and recognize fellow raccoons. They also mark their territories with urine and feces, just like other mammals.

Raccoons have dexterous hands

Raccoons have dexterous front paws with five fingers. These allow them to open jars, turn doorknobs, and even untie shoelaces. Their touch-sensitive paws are a major advantage when foraging for food, especially in the dark! 

They can make a variety of sounds

Raccoons have a rich vocal repertoire. They can make over 50 different sounds for communication. Some of the vocalizations they can do can include hisses, growls, and even high-pitched screams. Younger raccoons are known to express their needs via chirping and squealing. 

They can teach each other

Raccoons are intelligent enough to learn from each other. They can pass their knowledge on to younger generations or even peers by using a mimicking process, which is usually how humans and primates teach and learn.

They can recognize expressions in their species

A raccoon’s facial coloration and tail rings help it quickly recognize the expressions and postures of other raccoons. This unique ability helps them to interact more effectively within their community. These also help them respond appropriately to potential threats or mating opportunities.

They are omnivorous eaters

Raccoons are scientifically named as Procyon lotor, which means they are part of the meat-eating family. But they’re not picky eaters. While they mainly eat small animals, eggs, and bugs, they can also munch on vegetables, fruits, and nuts when they need to. They have a flexible diet that helps them adapt to different places.

Raccoons ‘wash’ their food

Raccoons have a tendency to ‘wash’ their food before eating. But it’s not actually for cleanliness. This gesture is more likely to better understand the texture and sensation of their food.

Raccoons can run up to 15 miles per hour

Believe it or not, when danger threatens, a raccoon can switch from its typical amble to a sprint. It can run at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.

They have superior climbing skills

Raccoons have strong limbs and sharp claws, which help them scale fences and trees quickly.  Raccoons use this climbing skill to do different things like looking for food or finding comfortable places to sleep high up in the trees. They’re part of the small group of mammals that can climb down trees headfirst, a skill that helps them run away from threats quickly. 

They use common toilets

Raccoons take cleanliness seriously. They keep their toilets away from dining or sleeping areas, so they can stay healthy and safe from diseases. They use specific spots, known as latrines, which is their communal toilet. You might encounter these in the wild. You’ll see them on a flat surface like a rock or the base of a tree. 

They can form social groups

Raccoons often live alone, but you can find them in sex-specific groups. Related females often share common areas, and unrelated males form loose social groups. This behavior comes up especially during mating season, when raccoons start spending more time together to help their community to thrive better.

They usually mate during the warm season

Raccoons typically start mating when the weather begins to warm up. This can happen between late January and mid-March. However, this can change depending on where they live. In some areas, mating season can go on until June. The environment and weather conditions play a big part in how raccoons mate.

They stay inside during winter

Raccoons enter a state of torpor, a period of decreased activity, during winters. Their dense underfur, which makes up about 90% of their coat, acts as a natural insulator against the cold. Instead of foraging, many raccoons opt to sleep in a nearby forest or even in their dens within urban areas.

Pygmy raccoons are endangered

The Cozumel raccoon, or the pygmy raccoon, is a critically endangered species of raccoon. They live on Cozumel Island, which is off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. They are only two-thirds of the size of their mainland cousins, and they have dark fur and skull shapes. Pygmy raccoons are at risk because they’re losing their habitats, facing hunting, and dealing with predators.

Females raise their offspring alone

Female raccoons are pregnant for about 63 days and give birth in early summer. They often nest in secluded spaces like tree holes or someone’s loft. Their babies are called kits. They can have up to seven offspring, and they remain indoors for the initial few months before going out. Female raccoons solely take care of their young.

Their average lifespan is 2-3 years in the wild

Typically, raccoons have an average lifespan of 2-3 years when living in the wild. However, some can live longer under favorable conditions. Around 50 percent of raccoons do not survive their first year due to various challenges, including disease, starvation, predators, or unfortunate encounters with humans.

Raccoons can carry harmful diseases

Raccoons are famous hosts for rabies, a potentially deadly disease for both humans and pets. They can also carry leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, canine distemper, and roundworm, which you can get from their poop. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep yourself and your pets away from them!

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