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Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Mammal · family Procyonidae · order Carnivora

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Raccoon
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
49 states[3]
Longest recorded life
21 years[4]

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a mammal in the raccoon family, Procyonidae, within the order Carnivora[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe lists it as native in 49 US states and territories[3].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the raccoon G5 (Secure) worldwide[2] and N5 (Secure) in the United States[6]. Both ranks mean the species is considered secure, not at risk of dying out, at those levels. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The raccoon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern

Where Raccoon lives

NatureServe lists the raccoon as native in 49 US states and territories[3]. That list runs across the country, from Maine and Florida in the East to Washington and California in the West, and it includes the District of Columbia[3]. On GBIF, Texas, California, Florida, New York and Illinois have the most reported sightings, which reflects where people look and report rather than how many raccoons live there[8].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S5WAIdaho: native, state rank S5IDMontana: native, state rank S5MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S5NDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S5ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S5WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank S5INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S5UTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S4AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4NMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: native, state rank S5FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (49 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS4Apparently Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaS5Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS5Secure
IowaS5Secure
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
MontanaS5Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New MexicoS4Apparently Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaS5Secure
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS5Secure
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
UtahS5Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingS5Secure

Habitat

Raccoons use many kinds of habitat, from forests and woodlands to shrubland, desert, farmland, suburbs and cities[10]. They tend to stay in damp places and are often found near streams and shores[11]. Wooded wetlands and streamside land are also on the list[10]. For a den, a raccoon may use a hollow tree, a burrow in the ground, a space under a log or rock, or a spot dug into a bank[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

The raccoon is an omnivore, which means it eats both plants and animals, and it takes whatever it can find[12]. Its menu includes fruit, nuts, insects, worms, frogs, fish, small mammals, eggs and even garbage, and it often feeds on or close to the ground near water[12]. One estimate puts its diet at 40% invertebrates, 20% seeds, 20% reptiles and amphibians and 20% fruit[13]. A typical raccoon is about 95 cm (37 in) long[14]. The longest recorded lifespan is 21 years in captivity[4]. Females give birth after 63 days[15] to one litter a year of 3 to 7 young[16], and mothers stop nursing them at 10 to 12 weeks[16].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 95 cm (37 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 21.6 kg (48 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 21 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[18] 4
Gestation or incubation[15] 63 days
Female maturity[19] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[20] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Active[21] nocturnal
Migration[22] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[13]

  • 40% invertebrates
  • 20% seeds
  • 20% reptiles and amphibians
  • 20% fruit

When to look for it

Raccoons are nocturnal and crepuscular, which means they are out at night and around dawn and dusk[23]. They do not migrate[22], but they may rest for a while in winter when deep snow covers the ground where they look for food[24]. Mating happens from late January to mid-March, and young are born from late April to early May[16]. People report raccoons on GBIF most often in April, May and June[25].

January: 8,711 recordsJanFebruary: 8,842 recordsFebMarch: 10,604 recordsMarApril: 12,567 recordsAprMay: 11,964 recordsMayJune: 10,993 recordsJunJuly: 9,678 recordsJulAugust: 8,597 recordsAugSeptember: 10,454 recordsSepOctober: 9,913 recordsOctNovember: 8,634 recordsNovDecember: 7,438 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January8,711
February8,842
March10,604
April12,567
May11,964
June10,993
July9,678
August8,597
September10,454
October9,913
November8,634
December7,438

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Raccoon as present in 209 park units[26]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 185 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, California, Florida, New York, Illinois[8]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Safety around this animal

These tips are quoted in summary from official agencies. We add no advice of our own. Follow local rules and the agency pages linked below.

From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • In the United States, the animals most often found with rabies are bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes.
  • Rabies spreads mainly through bites and scratches. It is fatal once symptoms start but preventable with prompt care.
  • Contact with bats is the leading cause of human rabies deaths in the United States.
  • After a bite or scratch, wash it right away with soap and water and get medical care urgently. Keep wildlife wild by staying away.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[27]

Questions people ask

Is the raccoon endangered?
No. The raccoon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide (G5)[2] and in the United States (N5)[6].
Where do raccoons live in the US?
NatureServe lists the raccoon as native in 49 US states and territories[3]. They live in forests, wetlands, farmland, suburbs and cities, often near water[10][11].
What do raccoons eat?
Raccoons eat both plants and animals, such as fruit, nuts, insects, frogs, fish, eggs and garbage[12]. One estimate puts their diet at 40% invertebrates, 20% seeds, 20% reptiles and amphibians and 20% fruit[13].
How big is a raccoon?
A typical raccoon is about 95 cm (37 in) long[14].
How long do raccoons live?
The oldest known raccoon in AnAge lived 21 years in captivity[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Raccoon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Raccoon: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Raccoon as native in 49 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 21 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a mammal in the family Procyonidae, order Carnivora. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Raccoon: Texas, California, Florida, New York, Illinois. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Raccoon (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Raccoon: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Desert, Bare rock/talus/scree, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard,... NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Raccoon. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Raccoon. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 40% invertebrates, 20% seeds, 20% reptiles and amphibians, 20% fruit. EltonTraits 1.0
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 95 cm (37 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 63 days. AnAge
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Raccoon. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 21.6 kg (48 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  20. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  22. NatureServe migration category for Raccoon: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on phenology for Raccoon. NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of Raccoon in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  26. NPSpecies park lists recording Raccoon as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  27. Safety guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.