Raccoons are clever, curious animals with a black mask on their face that makes them look like bandits! These forest explorers are known for using their paws like hands to find food. Raccoons are active mostly at night and can live near people or deep in the woods. Kids love them because they’re smart and playful.
Watch a Raccoon in Action!
Watch how this clever animal climbs, explores, and uses its paws to play and eat.
What Is a Raccoon?
Raccoons are small to medium-sized mammals that live in forests and cities. They are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals.
- They have black “bandit” masks and ringed tails.
- They use their front paws like hands to open things.
- They are mostly awake at night (nocturnal).
Where Do Raccoons Live?
Raccoons can live in many places because they are good at adapting.
- Found across North America in forests, near rivers, or neighborhoods.
- They make dens in hollow trees, burrows, caves, or attics.
What Do Raccoons Eat?
Raccoons like to eat many kinds of food.
- Fruits, nuts, and berries
- Insects, eggs, fish, frogs
- Leftovers from people like vegetable scraps
How Big Is a Raccoon?
Raccoons are about the size of a small dog.
- Body length: about 40 cm (16 in), tail adds another 25 cm (10 in)
- Weight: about 5–15 kg (11–33 lb) – that’s like carrying 3–8 large school textbooks!
What Sound Do Raccoons Make?
Raccoons make many sounds to talk to each other and show feelings.
They whistle, purr, chatter, growl, hiss, screech, bark, squeal, and whine.
Cool Raccoon Facts
Raccoons are really interesting!
- They can make over 200 different sounds:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
- They can climb down trees head‑first by turning their back paws around.
- They wash food in water before eating (though they don’t always need to).
- They have a strong sense of touch in their paws.
- Their masks help hide them in the dark.
- Baby raccoons are called kits and stay with their mother for about a year.
Printables and Coloring Fun
Have fun coloring and playing with raccoon pictures!
Raccoons in the Eco‑system
Raccoons help nature in many ways.
- They spread seeds when they eat fruit and poop in different places.
- They eat insects and small animals, helping keep numbers balanced.
- They are not endangered—populations are healthy and growing in cities.
Ask a Grown‑Up to Learn More
Here are some trusted websites where your grown-ups can learn more about raccoons.
Fun Questions About Raccoons
They use them like little hands to open things and eat.
They can be curious but are wild animals and can bite if scared.
They’re called kits, and they look like smaller versions of adults with masks and striped tails.
Yes! They can climb up and down trees very well—even head‑first!
It’s actually to feel the food better with their paws in water.
They sleep during the day and come out at night.
They can if they feel scared or are protecting their babies.
Yes—raccoons are clever and can live near people in towns.
In the wild they live about 2–3 years, but can live longer in safe places.
Ways to Donate and Support Raccoons
You can help protect raccoons by keeping trash bins closed, cleaning up after picnics, and supporting safe spaces for wildlife.
Sources: Wikipedia, Live Science, Creative Commons, Britannica.com and Freesound.org
Alphabetical list of animals that start with R
A full alphabetical list of popular animal names that begin with the letter R for toddlers and preschool kids.
- Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Ram
- Rat
- Rattlesnake
- Raven
- Ray
- Red Eyed Tree Frog
- Red Panda
- Reindeer
- Rhea
- Rhinoceros
- Rhinoceros Beetle
- River Dolphin
- Roadrunner
- Robin
- Rooster
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Animal phonics alphabet
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