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Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons are common across Iowa and easy to recognize by their ringed tails and black “masks.” Highly adaptable, they thrive in forests, wetlands, and even neighborhoods – especially near trees and water. Their intelligence and flexibility help them succeed in both wild and human-dominated areas.
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Mostly nocturnal, raccoons spend their nights searching for food.
They are true omnivores and will eat nearly anything they can find: fruits, nuts, insects, frogs, crayfish, small animals, and bird eggs. They also take full advantage of what people throw away. Because we discard so much edible food, raccoons quickly learn to raid trash cans, dumpsters, and backyard bins – an easy buffet for an opportunistic animal.
Raccoons are skilled foragers with extremely sensitive front paws. When they dip or “douse” food in water, it isn’t for washing – it helps them better feel and identify their meal. They den in tree hollows, logs, rock crevices, or sometimes in old buildings. In spring, females give birth to a litter of three to six kits, raising them on their own until the young are ready to explore the world several months later.
Learn more about raccoons from Nebraska Wildlife Rehab.