Raccoon Procyon lotor

Description

Raccoons like to swim and are skilled climbers. They are highly adaptable and omnivorous, and manage well in urban areas. Their population density may be extremely high, particularly in urban areas. Females give birth to four young on average, most of them as early as at the age of one year for the first time. Population growth may therefore be exponential in favourable circumstances.

Source: FinBIF species descriptions
Description text authors:

Kaarina Kauhala (Luke) – updated 15.3.2016/2.5.2015

CC BY 4.0

The map represents observations of this taxon, but it may not be used as a distribution map.

squares
Observations
  • Total squares
Checklist
FinBIF master checklist
Scientific name
Procyon lotor
Author
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Vernacular names
  • pesukarhu (Finnish)
  • tvättbjörn (Swedish)
  • Raccoon (English)
Identifier
http://tun.fi/MX.47329
Taxon rank
species
This species is invasive
EstablishmentDoes not occur in the wild in Finland
Regulatory Status
  • Invasive alien species of Union concern (EU 2016/1141; 2017/1263; 2019/1262; 2022/1203) ?
Expert
  • Thomas Lilley
DNA barcode sequences
Informal groups
  • Mammals