Masked and on the Move

Philly’s raccoons are clever, curious, and coming for our garbage.

September is a busy time for local ringtail bandits. All across the city — from the ivy-covered walls of West Philly to the rooftops of Germantown and the trails of Wissahickon — raccoons are out in force, foraging for food and teaching their young how to navigate the nighttime streets. Born in late spring, this year’s babies are now big enough to tag along with mom on her nightly rounds. And everyone’s got one goal: eat as much as possible before the cold sets in.

September is one of the best times to observe these clever, curious creatures, whose lives are far more fascinating than their “trash panda” reputation might suggest. Raccoons are native to Pennsylvania and deeply embedded in our state’s ecological history. Though once found primarily in forests and wetlands, they’ve proven remarkably adaptable in modern times, thriving in cities and suburbs where food and shelter are plentiful.

An adult raccoon typically measures about two to three feet long (including their bushy tail), and weighs between 10 and 30 pounds — often tubbier in the food-rich neighborhoods of Philly. Built low and sturdy, with sharp claws and short legs, raccoons rely on keen senses of hearing, smell, and touch to navigate the night. Though they come across as sluggish at first glance, raccoons are quick, agile, and surprisingly strong when they need to be. They’re also excellent swimmers and climbers. No garbage can, garden, or attic is ever truly out of reach.

Out and About

In the wild, raccoons den in hollow logs, tree trunks, or old burrows, usually close to water. In the city, they get creative — nesting in chimneys, crawlspaces, sheds, storm drains, even inside walls. They’re mostly nocturnal, so during the day they lay low. But once the sun sets, they’ll make their rounds along familiar routes through alleys, yards, rooftops, and parkland in search of something to eat.

And what a diet! Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores, which means they’ll eat just about anything: fruits, nuts, insects, frogs, fish, eggs, small mammals — plus human leftovers, bird seed, pet food, compost, and whatever else they can scrounge. In fact, they’ve become so adept at urban foraging that some researchers argue they’re evolving into a new kind of city-dwelling specialist.

That said, raccoons aren’t just mooches! They play a real role in the ecosystem, helping to clean up organic waste, disperse seeds, and keep insect populations in check. They also serve as prey for coyotes and other predators. Amid growing urban sprawl, raccoons remain a visible reminder of how wildlife finds ways to persist in a shrinking habitat.

This proximity with humans has its challenges — especially for the raccoons. While they can carry diseases like rabies and roundworm, and may bite or scratch if cornered, they’re not the threat we tend to imagine. In truth, it’s humans who pose the greater danger. Every year, countless raccoons are hit by cars, injured by dogs, or removed from homes (often by inhumane methods).

Still, they’re here — and they’re not going anywhere. Love them or not, it’s hard not to admire these clever, masked mammals. They’re problem-solvers. Urban acrobats. Living proof that wildness still exists right outside our windows. And this month, as they rummage through alleys and scale backyard fences, they’re fully in their element. A little rowdy, a little rotund, and right at home in the city they’ve made their own.

---

🦝 Fun Facts, Folklore & Famous Raccoons ✨

• Male raccoons, called “boars” are bigger than female “sows” and have boned penises to ensure they’re always up for action.
• Both male and female raccoons mate with more than one partner; females will typically have one litter per year of 3 to 5 “kits,” “pups,” or “cubs” – and she’ll do all the parenting, too.
• Raccoons communicate through a variety of sounds: squeaks, mews, churrs, barks, grunts, growls, whistles, screeches, chitters, and even hisses.
• Raccoons have incredible memories. Studies show they can remember how to solve a problem for at least three years. With their dexterous little hands, they can puzzle their way around lids, latches, and simple locks.
• Raccoons can run at speeds of 15 mph, and climb just as fast. They can fall from a height of 13 stories and walk off unharmed.
• The “mask” really works. The dark fur around their eyes helps reduce glare and improves their night vision — just like eye black on athletes.
• Raccoons don’t hibernate. During winter cold snaps, their bodies enter a state called “torpor” where they’ll hole up in their dens for days but they do not go completely dormant like bears, bats, chipmunks, etc. If temperatures rise, they’ll wake up to scavenge and then hunker down again as needed.
• It’s a myth that raccoons wash their food. In nature, they’re not cleaning — they’re feeling for prey. Water makes their super-sensitive paws even sharper, and in captivity, that foraging instinct gets misread as “washing.”
• Raccoons in the wild typically live about six years, while the oldest raccoon in captivity lived to 19 years.
• Real-life raccoons have made Philly headlines. One famously fell through the ceiling of the Chestnut Hill Library. Others have been caught on camera stealing candy and joyriding on the PHL baggage carousel.
• Famous raccoons include Meeko in Pocahontas and Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy, but the “Rocky Raccoon” that the Beatles sung about isn’t a raccoon at all — he’s a jilted cowboy in a saloon showdown. Paul McCartney came up with the name after a drunken doctor treated him for a moped crash in India. (It was the ’60s.)
• The Powhatan word arocoun — “one who scratches with its hands” — was anglicized into “raccoon” by early English settlers.
• Raccoons are a protected species in Canada. It’s illegal to trap or kill them without proper licenses.

Coexisting Comfortably

Living peacefully with raccoons starts with a few simple steps: secure your trash, bring pet food indoors at night, and seal up any potential entry points. If a raccoon has already moved in, don’t rush to trap or relocate — it often does more harm than good, especially for mothers with young. Most raccoons keep more than one den in case one is compromised, and will leave on their own when properly encouraged.

Try shining a light under the porch or placing ammonia-soaked rags or cayenne around den sites. Talk radio can also be surprisingly effective, the constant sound of human voices is often enough to drive them off. With a little patience and creativity, raccoons usually get the message and move along without drama. Contact a local wildlife clinic for ideas: Phillywildlife.org &  Schuylkillcenter.org

🚨 Rabies Risk: Stay Safe, Stay Back

Raccoons are among the most common rabies carriers in Pennsylvania, and several positive cases have been reported across Philadelphia this year — including in Germantown, East Falls, and Brewerytown. While not every daytime raccoon is sick, any animal acting disoriented, aggressive, or unusually tame should be avoided. Keep pets close and make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date — it’s required by law, and it could save their life.

Do not touch raccoons — even adorable babies. To report a suspicious animal or possible exposure, contact Philadelphia Animal Care & Control:
📞 (215) 685-9040
📄 Animal Exposure Reporting Form (City of Philadelphia)

Thoughts? Comments? Please leave them below. If you enjoyed this Local wildlife feature, please check out last month’s spotlight on the (not so) Common Water Snake.