Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnívors)
- FamilyProcyonidae (Raccoons, Coatis, and Allies)
- GenusProcyon (Raccoons)
- SpeciesProcyon lotor (Common Raccoon)
The raccoon ( or US: , Procyon lotor), sometimes called the North American, northern or common raccoon (also spelled racoon) to distinguish it from other species of raccoon, is a mammal native to North America. It 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 cold weather. The animal's most distinctive features include its extremely dexterous front paws, its facial mask, and its ringed tail, which are common themes in the mythologies of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas surrounding the species. The raccoon is noted for its intelligence, and studies show that it can remember the solution to tasks for at least three years. It is usually nocturnal and omnivorous, eating about 40% invertebrates, 33% plants, and 27% vertebrates. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Raccoon sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 48 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park
Island Fox
Urocyon littoralis
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Coyote
Canis latrans
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Western Spotted Skunk
Spilogale gracilis
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Juan Fernández Fur Seal
Arctocephalus philippii
Northern Sea Lion
Eumetopias jubatus
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️🌙 When They're Spotted
Active throughout day and night · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Raccoon in Channel Islands National Park?
About 12% of wildlife watchers report a Common Raccoon sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 48 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Raccoon in Channel Islands National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Common Raccoon in Channel Islands National Park in our monthly data.