Fact File
Scientific Name: Procyon lotor lotor
Classification: Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Procyonidae
Identifying Characteristics
The body is stocky, with a broad head, pointed snout, and bushy tail with 5-7 blackish rings and a black tip. The fur is long, coarse, grizzled brown-grayish or blackish. The face has a black mask across the forehead, eyes and cheeks. The adults weigh 10-25 pounds and are about 28 inches in length. The breeding season is from January to March, and the litter size is 2-8 born in a den in April or May with ears and eyes closed. They may be dormant in winter dens, but there is no true hibernation. They are primarily nocturnal, with peak feeding before midnight, but there is much seasonal and individual variation. Longevity in the wild is up to 16 years, although most die by 2-5 years. They may use the burrows of muskrats, red and gray fox, groundhog, skunk and opossum.
Distribution:
Raccoons are found throughout Virginia but are especially abundant in the Tidewater section. They are found in forests, parks, and sometimes cities proper. A close proximity to water is very important (swamps, marshes, along water courses). Raccoon are more abundant in upland hardwoods than pine areas.
Last updated: August 18, 2023
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Species Profile Database serves as a repository of information for Virginia’s fish and wildlife species. The database is managed and curated by the Wildlife Information and Environmental Services (WIES) program. Species profile data, distribution information, and photography is generated by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, State and Federal agencies, Collection Permittees, and other trusted partners. This product is not suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying use. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources does not accept responsibility for any missing data, inaccuracies, or other errors which may exist. In accordance with the terms of service for this product, you agree to this disclaimer.