Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 40–70 cm body; plus ringed tail
- Weight
- 5–12 kg
- Habitat
- Forests, wetlands, and cities of North America
- Diet
- Fruit, nuts, insects, eggs, small animals, and scraps
- Active Time
- Mainly nocturnal
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years in the wild
Field Notes
- Raccoons have extremely sensitive front paws and often feel food in water.
- Their problem-solving skills let them open jars, latches, and bins.
- The dark 'mask' may help reduce glare and sharpen their night vision.
About the Raccoon
The raccoon is a clever, adaptable mammal native to North America, easily recognized by its black 'bandit' face mask and ringed tail. Highly dexterous front paws let it open latches, turn handles, and feel for food, and it often dunks or handles food in water. An opportunistic omnivore, it thrives in forests, wetlands, and increasingly in towns and cities, where it raids gardens and trash for an easy meal. Mostly nocturnal and curious, the raccoon has a strong memory and problem-solving ability that help it exploit human environments.
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