Raccoon

Field guide to the most commonly encountered mammals and birds

Here, we provide some basic information regarding commonly observed species (plus some others about which we have had queries).

Feel free to contact us by email if you have any questions regarding species you have encountered on the site.

For more information about mammals, we recommend the Mammal Society's species hub, here, and MammalNet here. For birds, excellent resources are available from the RSPB (here) and the BTO (here).

Scientific name: Procyon lotor

Family: Procyonidae

Appearance: Raccoons are cat-sized animals with an unmistakable ‘bandit’-style mask across the face. The coat is grey and densely furred and the tail is bushy and marked with black and white rings. Raccoons have extremely dexterous front paws which they use for foraging and climbing.

Size: Head and body 60-95 cm; Tail 19-40 cm; Weight 4.0-15.8 kg

Natural history: Raccoons are nocturnal animals and are extremely adaptable. In their native North America, they have spread from their original forested habitats to mountainous areas, coastal marshes and urban areas. They may live in loose gender specific groups or solitarily. They are omnivorous and eat invertebrates, plants and small vertebrates.

Raccoons have been brought into the UK as exotic pets and for zoos and collections. Escaped individuals are recorded in the wild fairly frequently and on one occasion breeding was recorded. There are currently no known established populations here, but they are an established invasive in mainland Europe.