Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Procyon lotor
Nearly all of the U.S. and southern Canada, including cities. Front track looks like a small hand, five long fingers.
What does a raccoon look like?
Gray body, black mask, ringed tail.
What do raccoon tracks look like?
Five fingers. The front print resembles a tiny human hand. Hind print is longer. Common in mud at pond edges.
- Front track looks like a small hand, five long fingers
- Hind track is a longer foot, about 3 to 4 inches
- Tracks often paired beside water or a trash line
- Scat is a blunt tubular pile, often at a latrine on a log, rock, or roof
- Masked face and ringed tail if seen
What does raccoon poop look like?
Tubular, blunt, often in a repeated latrine. Can carry raccoon roundworm. Do not touch or sweep it dry. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Nearly all of the U.S. and southern Canada, including cities. Typical places: woods, wetland, yard. Year-round in the South. Less active in deep winter in the North.
What to do next
- Do not handle scat
- Close chimney and attic openings
- Call a professional if one is in the house
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Virginia opossum identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
A small five-fingered hand in front and a longer five-toed hind foot.
Blunt tubes left in a pile in the same spot. Do not touch it.
How to tell a raccoon from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Virginia opossum. The opposable hind thumb is the mark. White face, pink nose, gray body, naked scaly tail.
Raccoon field marks
- Front track looks like a small hand, five long fingers
- Hind track is a longer foot, about 3 to 4 inches
- Tracks often paired beside water or a trash line
- Scat is a blunt tubular pile, often at a latrine on a log, rock, or roof
Where the sign shows up
Nearly all of the U.S. and southern Canada, including cities. Typical places: woods, wetland, yard. Year-round in the South. Less active in deep winter in the North.
Five fingers. The front print resembles a tiny human hand. Hind print is longer. Common in mud at pond edges. Tubular, blunt, often in a repeated latrine. Can carry raccoon roundworm. Do not touch or sweep it dry.
Common questions
What do raccoon tracks look like?
A small five-fingered hand in front and a longer five-toed hind foot.
What does raccoon poop look like?
Blunt tubes left in a pile in the same spot. Do not touch it.