10 Incredible Facts About Raccoons

Lifespan Raccoons typically live between 2 to 3 years in the wild.

[{"selector":"#anim-14b1c3ed-2170-45c7-8049-fab86cc4412b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea950592-8a33-43fa-ae9d-3e9fdcf2948c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 76.34652%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdd0e01c-0611-45fb-9616-30cf63eeac6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa105f19-c768-4988-b745-3a7ef29e90b6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.40600%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

[{"selector":"#anim-a35a4d3c-d566-4cdd-8b92-4900d44450cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e26260e0-b51a-4a57-aacf-80f66ad083ab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 101.09227%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-589fdcfd-42a2-431f-8189-e57b2a85ecaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd3a0ba0-9e03-4880-b72b-6a95812fee81","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.34473%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator Presidential Pet In 1926, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge declined to eat a raccoon meant for dinner and instead adopted her as a pet. Named Rebecca, this raccoon attended White House functions and even sported a collar with the words "White House Raccoon".

Pygmy Rarity The pygmy raccoon is found exclusively on Cozumel Island in Mexico. With only 250 to 300 of them left, they are nearly extinct.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e988efb-315b-43e9-ace3-555e4db8d26b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0cce9d27-b6de-44d6-b701-653e8cf36264","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 86.51599%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6141bcd5-779c-419b-96c6-7b2d6f9580fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc52ee4f-31ab-4a38-95f3-3d1fac18cc1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.21660%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

Etymology The word “raccoon” originates from the Powhatan language, meaning "he scratches with the hands".

[{"selector":"#anim-baaa8d77-85fe-4def-bdf6-82598e12ae69","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e38c6b18-888d-4b19-9e8c-65f73201fc36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 79.73635%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08e69817-a48d-4dc3-b75d-df1ca892b394","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac69d122-edb7-4f71-b49f-5fd41f6fde57","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 145.20783%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

Close Relatives Raccoons’ closest relatives are the cacomistle and the ringtail cat.

[{"selector":"#anim-dd06ed8f-7f60-43f4-968f-9debcd64bde6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16d86af9-7406-4f5d-bd59-dcd50c73f764","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 69.56685%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de461a06-cce5-467e-b035-28a7c6d16a4d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-caaa531e-3588-4d17-86e6-ff9c6714f95c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.40216%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

Urban Savvy City-dwelling raccoons are smarter than their rural counterparts.

[{"selector":"#anim-1fc8eb3d-0e82-4f4f-8c45-bf482b8d5454","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d19c1ab-9fa6-46bd-8ab0-967704458d07","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 77.02448%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bc4d385-c9b7-4184-959a-3285e888d06b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-130c8bad-421e-4324-a4b0-d25c8ae6ca7f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.92595%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

Disease Carriers Raccoons carry several diseases, including rabies, canine distemper, and leptospirosis. Their feces can also harbor roundworms that are transferable to humans.

[{"selector":"#anim-35403577-88b7-47a8-9b69-10f367e43edc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ddf91a1-d1df-4a42-9470-354922dac8c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100.07533%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4c6cbfd-f5ba-495c-9fa9-0e9a3501c86f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44ba3287-1ac0-4e28-a135-3d35c701aab7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 138.70773%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

German Names In German, raccoons are called “waschbar” (meaning “wash-bear”).

[{"selector":"#anim-71c0dfa9-08c3-4505-a608-7cb1e3aba8ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0393cfa6-67b5-45f8-916b-545f8c658469","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 76.34652%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f556bc95-738b-4c37-b564-b74581014af2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e4d0df1-2a0d-4c56-b177-28e5e612f694","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.92595%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

Sensitive Ears Raccoons have such sensitive hearing that they can detect worms crawling in the earth.

[{"selector":"#anim-38ce947e-79ba-472e-a5d6-16700e83feca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d988cdf1-9755-4c58-8184-8e1f62f9ed36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 79.73635%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd6ec3f5-bad4-4377-85a9-f757d1fd590f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7942f1aa-3c0c-4082-8c50-f91369974841","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.83068%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator

[{"selector":"#anim-73507710-2c81-4ddb-a54f-91d031b08883","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b906a1a4-f151-4151-a61d-62d3d92d0306","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 86.51599%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00f0e7ab-7e8a-4bae-98ee-8ae1a66e17c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5847fbb6-4bdd-403e-9844-01b032ed90ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 145.18026%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator Caring Creatures These intelligent and curious monkeys often interact with humans, especially in areas where they are accustomed to visitors12. They exhibit a behavior that sometimes includes curiosity towards humans.

Bonus Fact Raccoons can make over 200 different sounds!

[{"selector":"#anim-45ca1f86-cd52-439a-889f-e02c3999388f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d3508bd-06e2-475b-8ab5-d15235c4ff83","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 69.56685%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8adeb7aa-980f-4ec9-aed3-475dafebcedc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce38f73b-3d88-4c45-b429-01be3349bace","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 188.88891%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Section Separator Learn more