Raccoons live in forests and agricultural areas. They can be seen not only at the edge of forests and waterbodies but also in urban and suburban parks. Although they often move from one shelter to another, raccoons usually live in hollow trees, barns, stumps, or abandoned groundhog dens. They can even seek refuge in attics and chimneys.

Around mid-November, raccoons enter a state of torpor and spend the winter in their dens. However, they do wake up from time to time. Males leave their den in late January and the females in mid-March. Raccoons are omnivorous, preferring small aquatic animals such as clams, mussels, crayfish, fish, frogs, and turtles. However, they also feed on insects, small mammals, fruit, corn, and sometimes our garbage.

Raccoons live for 12 to 13 years in the wild and up to 22 years in captivity. Raccoons are very dexterous and have a highly developed sense of touch. Their front paws are like little hands that can easily grasp small objects, turn door handles, and even lift lids like those on garbage cans.

Raccoon predators include American martens, bobcats, cougars, grey wolves, red foxes, and humans, who take raccoons mainly for their fur. It should be noted that raccoons can carry rabies.