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What Are Raccoons?

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are instantly recognizable by the black mask around their eyes and hand-like paw prints. Sometimes referred to as masked bandits, their name is derived from the Algonquian word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hand." Raccoons are mammals native to North America, South America and Central America. Procyon lotor are extremely adaptable and can live almost anywhere there is food, water and shelter, including cities, suburbs, rural areas, woodlands and wetlands.

Appearance
- Raccoon fur is grayish-brown, and they range in weight from 12 to 48 pounds. It has a pointed nose and small, rounded ears. Procyon lotor's most telltale features are their bushy tail with about 10 alternating black and brown rings and their black fur mask around the eyes. Also unique is the raccoon's paw print, which looks like a tiny, five-digit, human hand print.
Diet
- Raccoons are omnivores and have a diverse diet. They frequent ponds and streams for crayfish, fish, and frogs. They forage woodlands for wild grapes, nuts and berries. They dig for worms, larvae and beetles and will eat crickets, wasps and most insects. Raccoons will raid bird nests for eggs and baby birds, farmer's corn fields and poultry barns. They will even eat small rodents and ransack garbage cans in residential neighborhoods. They feed at night and often in small groups.
Shelter
- Raccoons find shelter in hollow logs, ground dens or trees. But they are just as comfortable in barns, abandoned buildings, attics, culverts or chimneys. They often rest in trees during the day or may use another raccoon's or skunk's den if it is vacant. They freely alternate between tree dens and ground dens and roam nightly. When fall comes, they start to build their fat reserves. They stay in their dens for extended periods of time in the winter, coming out only on warmer days to feed.
Adaptations
- The raccoon is an excellent climber, with the ability to come down a tree head-first or feet-first. It is also a good swimmer. One of its greatest adaptations is its nimble forefeet. With hand-like precision, the raccoon can open latches or turn knobs. These skills, combined with persistence to problem-solve, enable raccoons to find food almost anywhere. They proficiently climb any tree and raid nests or knock down fruit and nuts, swim out to muskrat dens or waterfowl nests and eat the babies, open campsite coolers, pry apart chicken wire to get at poultry, topple garbage cans, pull apart bird feeders and so on. Their tenacity to find food often brings them into direct conflict with humans.

Animals & Science