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 Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 9 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Piedras Blancas National Park
Crab-eating Raccoon
Procyon cancrivorus
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
Kinkajou
Potos flavus
Tayra
Eira barbara
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
Greater Grison
Galictis vittata
Margay
Leopardus wiedii
Striped Hog-nosed Skunk
Conepatus semistriatus
📅 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 Piedras Blancas National Park?
About 15% of wildlife watchers report a Common Raccoon sighting in Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 9 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Raccoon in Piedras Blancas National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Common Raccoon in Piedras Blancas National Park in our monthly data.