What kind of animal is a raccoon? They have an image of being violent and causing damage, so we will explain their characteristics, personality, ecology, and habitat. Raccoons are native to North and Central America, and are a well-known animal with a very stable population. They are the most widely distributed species of animals in the genus Procyon.
What is a raccoon? Basic stats
Raccoons are mammals classified in the order Carnivora, family Procyonidae, and genus Procyon. Their English name is Northern raccoon or Common raccoon, and their scientific name is Procyon lotor. Their kanji characters are 洗熊 and 浣熊. Their body length is 40-60cm and their weight is 2-20kg. The list of information is as follows.
| Japanese（和名） | アライグマ |
| English（英名） | Common raccoon Northern raccoon |
| scientific name(学名) | Procyon lotor |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Carnivora、 Procyonidae、Procyon 哺乳綱、食肉目、アライグマ科、アライグマ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | LEAST CONCERN |
| Length（体長） | 40-60cm |
| Weight（体重） | 2-20kg |
Raccoon Taxonomy
- 界（Kingdom）：動物界 (Animalia)
- 門（Phylum）：脊索動物門 (Chordata)
- 綱（Class）：哺乳綱 (Mammalia)
- 目（Order）：食肉目 (Carnivora)
- 科（Family）：アライグマ科 (Procyonidae)
- 属（Genus）：アライグマ属 (Procyon)
- 種（Species）：アライグマ (Procyon lotor)
Habitat
Raccoons are native to Mexico, the United States, and Canada, but have been introduced to other parts of the world and are now found widely throughout the world.
- Natural Distribution
Origin
North America
Southern Canada
Throughout the United States
Northern Mexico
Originally, they inhabited temperate forests.
- Preferred Habitat
Raccoons are highly adaptable to their environment and can be found in the following locations:
Forests (deciduous and mixed)
Around rivers, lakes, and wetlands
Rural areas
Urban and residential areas
Parks
Sewers
Attics and warehouses
👉 They particularly prefer environments with water and hiding places.
- Global Distribution (Invasive Species)
Due to artificial introduction, they have now become established in the following regions:
Japan
Europe (Germany, France, etc.)
Russian Far East
Especially in Japan:
Imported as a pet → Abandoned/Escaped
Raccoons became feral and spread throughout the country
Designated as a designated invasive species
- Habitat in Japan
They are commonly found in the following locations in Japan:
Satoyama (rural forests)
Riverbanks
Around farmland
Urban attics and vacant houses
👉 They tend to be highly dependent on human habitats.
What are its characteristics? What does it look like?
Raccoons have gray-brown fur and black markings from around the eyes to the cheeks. They are often mistaken for raccoon dogs, but they are a different species. The difference between raccoons and raccoons is that raccoons have black horizontal stripes. The underside is gray or light brown, the area around the eyes and mouth is black, and the nose and chin are white. They live in forests and grasslands. They can be found in wetlands and coastal areas, as well as farmland, suburban areas, and urban areas.
- Appearance and Physical Characteristics
Body Length: Approximately 40-70cm (excluding tail)
Tail Length: Approximately 20-40cm (distinctive stripes)
Weight: Approximately 4-10kg (can reach nearly 15kg depending on environment)
Facial Pattern:
Their most distinctive feature is the black mask pattern around their eyes.
Coat Color:
Gray-brown to Yellow-brown
Their tail has black and white stripes.
- Extremely Dexterous Hands
Their front paws have a structure similar to that of a human hand.
Their fingers have keen senses, allowing them to:
Open lids
Grasp objects
Sort food
Their “washing-like” behavior is actually a behavior they use their sense of touch to check.
- High Intelligence
Excellent Learning Ability and Memory
Once learned, they retain behaviors for a long time.
They have excellent problem-solving abilities, and can avoid traps, open trash cans, and even learn human daily routines.
- Dietary Characteristics
Omnivorous
Fruits and nuts
Insects, frogs, and fish
Bird eggs and small animals
Human scraps
Flexibly changes diet depending on the season and environment
- Behavioral Characteristics
Nocturnal
Good at climbing trees and swimming
Quickly flees when threatened
Curious and often exploratory
What is their personality like?
Raccoons often live in rock cavities and are somewhat timid. They have poor eyesight and the antennae on their palms are very well developed, so despite their cute appearance, they have very aggressive personalities. They may bite or scratch you. They often forage near water in the evening and are very good swimmers.
- Basic Personality
Very curious
Easily interested in new objects, sounds, and smells
Highly intelligent and cunning
Good at trial and error
Repeating successful methods
Highly cautious
Quickly flees when threatened
Can become aggressive when cornered
- Aggression
Usually avoids people
However, they are dangerous in the following cases:
No escape route
Rearing their young
Food is being stolen
Sharp teeth and claws, with powerful bites and scratches
- Sociality
Primarily solitary
Does not form groups except during breeding season
Mother-child bonds are strong but temporary
- Personality as seen in relationships with humans
Perceives humans as both a threat and a food source
High learning ability:
Learns when to take out the trash
Adapts to human lifestyles
Even when accustomed to humans, they are not necessarily tame animals
What is their ecology?
Raccoons are omnivorous, eating amphibians and fish as well as fruits, nuts, insects, small animals, and bird eggs. Their breeding season is from February to June and they are polygamous, with a gestation period of about two months. They can give birth to 1-7 pups at a time. The newborn pups open their eyes around three weeks after birth and have a nursing period of 70 days. They are said to live for about 10-20 years.
- Life Rhythm
Nocturnal
Active in the evening and at night, resting during the day
Range of Activity
Depending on the environment, it can be as large as several square kilometers
Range of activity is relatively small in urban areas
Resting Places
Tree holes, rock shade, underbrush
In urban areas, they also use attics, warehouses, and sewers
- Diet (Very Flexible)
Omnivorous
Fruits, nuts, grains
Insects, crustaceans, frogs, fish
Bird eggs, small mammals
Human food scraps and pet food
Feeding near water
Searches for food using its front paws
“Washing” behavior is confirmed by touch
- Breeding and Rearing
Breeding Season: Mainly Winter to Spring
Gestation Period: Approximately 63 days
Labour: 2-5 pups (average 3-4)
Rearing
Only the mother is responsible
Nursing Period: Approximately 2-3 months
Pups stay with their mother until autumn
- Social Structure
Generally solitary
Males’ territories may overlap, but they do not cooperate.
Females have limited territories during the rearing period.
They do not live in groups, but they do gather temporarily at feeding areas.
- Motor Ability and Adaptability
Excellent at climbing trees.
Excellent swimmers.
High intelligence allows them to quickly adapt to new environments.
Ability to overcome man-made obstacles (garbage cans, traps).
They do not hibernate in cold regions, but their activity is reduced.
Do they have any natural enemies?
Raccoons have no natural enemies, are omnivorous, and have a strong reproductive ability, so their very fast reproduction is a concern. Damage to ecosystems and living environments often spreads rapidly, and farmers are also suffering a lot of damage. They can also climb trees, so measures are needed.
About raccoon pups
This article provides a detailed account of raccoon (Procyon lotor) pups, from birth to development.
- Characteristics at Birth
Birthing Season: Spring (March-May)
Litter Size: 2-5 (Average: 3-4)
Birth Weight: Approximately 60-75g
Appearance:
Eyes are closed
Ears are small and lying flat
Fur is thin, and the mask pattern is still unclear
- Immediately after birth – 1 month
Completely dependent on the mother
Eyes open approximately 2-3 weeks after birth
Calls for mother by calling
Spends time in nest (tree hollow, attic, etc.)
- 1-3 months after birth
Begins to leave the nest
Walking becomes stable, and playful behavior increases
From mother:
Avoids danger
Begins to learn how to find food
- 3-6 months after birth
Begins to practice omnivorous eating
Learns to climb trees and forage near water
Appears to be significantly closer to adulthood
Stays with mother until autumn
- Independence and Maturity
Independence: Around 8-10 months of age
Sexual Maturity:
Females: Approximately 1 year of age
Males: 1-2 years of age
- Personality of Young Animals
Very curious
Play leads to learning
Although they may appear to be easily tame, their wild instincts remain.
- Important Points to Note
Young animals may look cute, but:
They may become aggressive as they grow older.
May carry pathogens (rabies, roundworms, etc.)
In principle, it is prohibited to rescue or keep them in captivity if found in the wild.
Are raccoons an endangered species?
Raccoons are invasive species, but according to the Ministry of the Environment, they are not endangered. In recent years, raccoons that have become wild and are invasive species have caused many damage to crops, as well as problems such as living in attics and destroying houses. Some municipalities have caused serious damage to urban development, and there are instructions for extermination, so check the site map on the official website for procedures. They invade houses for disaster prevention, so measures such as capture are necessary.
Raccoon Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Classification:
LC (Least Concern)
👉 Classified as a species with little risk of extinction.
Why not endangered?
① Extremely large population
Estimated to number in the tens of millions, mainly in North America
Wide range, with stable or increasing population
② Exceptionally high environmental adaptability
Adaptable to forests, wetlands, farmland, and urban areas
Able to utilize artificial environments (garbage, buildings)
Omnivorous, so food is readily available
③ High reproductive capacity
Gives birth to 2-5 litters per year
Relatively high survival rate of young
Can raccoons be kept as pets?
Raccoons are designated as specified invasive species, and the purpose of keeping them is limited to academic research, exhibitions, education, etc. Therefore, ordinary people cannot keep them as pets. There is a high possibility of spotting them in various places, and if you see one nearby, it is dangerous to leave it alone. Depending on the location of birds and animals, safety measures are necessary.
① Legal Status (Japan)
❌ Keeping Raccoons as Pets Is Illegal
Raccoons are designated as “Specified Alien Species.”
As a result, the following are all prohibited:
Keeping
Purchasing/Selling
Transferring
Transporting
Release
📌 Keeping pets in private homes is strictly prohibited.
Violations are subject to fines and imprisonment.
② Why can’t they be kept as pets?
- Serious Ecosystem Impact
Predates on Native Species (Frogs, Birds, Insects, etc.)
Destroys Ecosystems
Serious Crop Damage
- Highly Dangerous
Becomes More Aggressive as It Grows
Bites and Scratches are Extremely Dangerous
Strong and Difficult to Control
- Diseases and Infectious Diseases
Rabies (Overseas)
Raccoon Roundworm (Serious Human Health Risk)
May Carry Bacteria and Parasites
③ Regarding the “Old-Times” Myth
1970s-1980s
There was a time when they were imported and kept as pets
After they grew older:
Became uncontrollable and were abandoned
Became Feral → Spread Nationwide
👉 This is the cause of the current invasive species problem.
④ Can They Be Kept Overseas?
In some countries and states, it is legal under certain conditions.
However:
Prohibited or severely restricted in many countries and regions
Requires specialized facilities and licenses
👉 There are almost no countries where it is “easy to keep them.”
コメント