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 →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Raccoon sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Riding Mountain National Park
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Coyote
Canis latrans
Northern River Otter
Lontra canadensis
American Marten
Martes americana
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Canada Lynx
Lynx canadensis
Fisher
Pekania pennanti
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
Stoat
Mustela erminea
Wolverine
Gulo gulo
📅 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 Riding Mountain National Park?
About 9% of wildlife watchers report a Common Raccoon sighting in Riding Mountain National Park, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Raccoon in Riding Mountain National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Common Raccoon in Riding Mountain National Park in our monthly data.