You see them every Tuesday night. Those glowing eyes peering out from your trash can, little paws clutching a discarded chicken wing like it’s a five-course meal at a Michelin-star restaurant. We call them "trash pandas." It’s a cute nickname, honestly. But it’s also deeply misleading because, despite the mask and the ringed tail, they aren’t bears, and they definitely aren’t pandas. So, what animal family are raccoons in exactly?
They belong to Procyonidae.
It’s a mouthful. Pro-cy-on-i-dae. If you’ve never heard of it, don't feel bad. It’s a relatively small New World family of mammals that sits in a very strange evolutionary spot. They are part of the order Carnivora, but if you watch a raccoon eat a marshmallow or a crawfish, you know they’re the ultimate opportunists. They’re basically the Swiss Army knives of the animal kingdom.
The Procyonid Family Tree: Not Your Average Neighbors
To understand the Procyonidae family, you have to look at who else is at the family reunion. It’s a weird guest list. You’ve got the coatis (those long-nosed creatures you see in Mexico), the kinkajous (honey bears that live in rainforests), ringtails, and olingos.
These animals share a few specific traits. Most of them have banded tails. Most of them are amazing climbers. And almost all of them have that "hand-like" dexterity that makes raccoons such a nightmare for "raccoon-proof" bird feeders.
Back in the day, taxonomists were honestly confused. They saw the flat-footed walk of a raccoon and thought, "Clearly, this is a tiny bear." Then they saw the skull shape and thought, "Maybe a dog?" It wasn't until molecular phylogenetics—basically looking at the DNA blueprints—that we realized these guys branched off on their own about 25 to 30 million years ago.
Why They Aren't Actually Bears or Dogs
It’s easy to see the confusion. Raccoons are plantigrade. That’s a fancy way of saying they walk on the soles of their feet, just like humans and bears do. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, are digitigrade—they walk on their toes.
But here’s the kicker. While bears (Ursidae) and raccoons (Procyonidae) share a common ancestor if you go back far enough into the Musteloidea superfamily, they are distinct. A raccoon is more closely related to a weasel or a red panda than it is to a Grizzly.
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Let's talk about the Red Panda for a second. For years, people thought the Red Panda was a member of the raccoon family. They look identical in the face. They both have the rings. But nature is a copycat. Recent genetic studies have shoved the Red Panda into its own unique family, Ailuridae. They’re basically cousins twice removed who happen to shop at the same clothing store.
The Secret Weapon: Those Hyper-Sensitive Paws
If you want to know what makes the Procyonidae family special, look at the hands. Or paws. Whatever you want to call them.
A raccoon’s front paws have five long, tapering fingers. They don't have opposable thumbs, yet they can still open jars, unlatch gates, and unzip tents. I once saw a raccoon at a campsite unclip a plastic buckle on a cooler like it was nothing. It was terrifying.
The reason they "wash" their food—a behavior called dousing—isn't about hygiene. Raccoons don't care if their food is dirty. They eat out of dumpsters! Instead, water increases the tactile sensitivity of their paws. They have more nerve endings in their paws than almost any other mammal. By wetting the skin, they get a "high-definition" picture of what they are holding. They are "seeing" with their hands.
This trait is a hallmark of the what animal family are raccoons in question because other Procyonids like the coati use their paws in similar, highly specialized ways to forage in crevices.
Where the Procyonids Live (and Where They Don't)
Procyonids are almost exclusively New World animals. They started in Central and South America and moved north. The North American Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is the most famous, but it’s just one branch.
- The Northern Raccoon: The one currently raiding your garage.
- The Crab-eating Raccoon: Found in South America, looking a bit more "leggy" and adapted for marshlands.
- The Coati: Found from Arizona down to Argentina. They’re diurnal (active in the day), unlike the nocturnal raccoon.
- The Kinkajou: Tropical, tree-dwelling, and possesses a prehensile tail. Raccoons can't do that. Imagine a raccoon that could hang from its tail—suburban life would be over.
The Evolutionary Gamble That Paid Off
Why has the raccoon family survived so well while other ancient lineages died out? Versatility.
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Most animals are specialists. A koala eats eucalyptus. A Canada lynx hunts hares. If the food source goes away, the animal goes away. Raccoons are the ultimate generalists. They are "mesocarnivores," meaning their diet is roughly 50% to 70% invertebrates and plant matter, with the rest being meat.
They can live in a swamp, a forest, or a studio apartment in Brooklyn if you leave the window open. This adaptability is why the Procyonidae family is thriving in the Anthropocene—the age of humans. While we destroy the habitats of many specialized species, we are accidentally building the perfect habitat for raccoons. We provide heat, water, and infinite calories in the form of leftovers.
The Misunderstood Intelligence of the Procyonid
In 1907, a psychologist named H.B. Davis conducted a study on raccoon intelligence. He put them in boxes with complex locks. The raccoons didn't just stumble through it; they learned the mechanics. Once they learned a task, they could remember it for up to three years.
That’s why you can’t "teach" a raccoon to stay away from your garden. They aren't just acting on instinct; they are problem-solving. This high level of cognitive function is a defining characteristic of the Procyonidae family, setting them apart from more "robotic" scavengers like opossums (which are marsupials and a totally different ballgame).
Cultural Impact and Human Interaction
In Native American mythology, the raccoon is often portrayed as a trickster. The Abenaki tribe called them azeban, a character who is always looking for a meal and outsmarting other animals. It makes sense. If you lived alongside these animals for thousands of years, you’d realize pretty quickly that they are playing a different game than the deer or the squirrels.
But this proximity leads to conflict. Distemper and Rabies are real issues. Because raccoons are so closely related to domestic dogs (distantly) and share similar environments, they can act as a bridge for diseases. Understanding their family lineage helps veterinarians and wildlife biologists create better vaccines and management plans.
Real Talk: Are They Good Pets?
Since we're talking about their family and behavior, let's address the TikTok elephant in the room. You see videos of "tame" raccoons wearing sweaters.
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Don't do it.
Even though they are in the Procyonidae family—which includes the relatively docile (but still wild) kinkajou—raccoons are not domesticated. Domestication takes thousands of years of selective breeding. A "tame" raccoon is just a wild animal that hasn't lost its temper yet. When they hit sexual maturity at around six months to a year, their "trickster" DNA kicks in. They will tear apart your drywall just to see what's behind it.
Key Identifying Features of the Procyonidae Family
If you're out hiking and you see a creature, here’s how to tell if you’re looking at a member of the raccoon family:
- Plantigrade Stance: Look at the tracks. If the footprint looks like a tiny, creepy human hand with a heel, it’s a Procyonid.
- Non-Retractable Claws: Unlike cats, their claws are always out. Great for climbing, not great for your upholstery.
- Short Baculum: If you’re a scientist looking at skeletal remains, the shape of the os penis (baculum) is a primary way they distinguish Procyonids from other carnivores.
- Lack of a Cecum: Their digestive systems are relatively simple because they don't specialize in high-cellulose plant matter.
The Future of the Family
Climate change is pushing Procyonids further north. Raccoons are now being spotted in parts of Alaska and Northern Canada where they were previously unheard of. Because they are so hardy, they are effectively an invasive species in places like Germany and Japan (where they were introduced as pets and then "released" when they became too much to handle).
In Japan, they are a massive problem. They are damaging ancient wooden temples because their paws are perfect for prying apart old wood to find grubs or nesting spots. It’s a global takeover, one trash can at a time.
Actionable Steps for Dealing with the Procyonidae Family
Knowing what animal family are raccoons in is cool for trivia, but if you have them in your attic, you need more than facts. You need a plan.
- Audit Your Perimeter: Look for "smudge marks." Raccoons have oily fur. If they are squeezing into a hole in your soffit, they will leave a dark, greasy stain.
- Secure the Bins: Gravity-defying latches are a must. Bungee cords are often not enough because they can use their fingers to unhook them. Use a locking bar if possible.
- Remove the "Welcome Mat": Do not leave pet food out overnight. This is the #1 reason raccoons stick around. To them, a bowl of kibble is a winning lottery ticket.
- Check Local Laws: In many states, it is actually illegal to relocate a raccoon. Why? Because you’re likely just moving a disease (like raccoon roundworm) to a new population, or the animal will starve because it doesn't know where the local food sources are. If you have a problem, call a professional who understands Procyonid behavior.
- Support Wildlife Rehabilitation: If you find an orphaned raccoon, don't try to raise it. Contact a licensed rehabber who knows the specific nutritional needs of the Procyonidae family.
Raccoons are a fascinating evolutionary success story. They aren't "pests" in the biological sense; they are highly evolved, intelligent mammals that have figured out how to win at the game of life in a human-dominated world. Respect the mask, keep your trash lid tight, and remember: you're dealing with a lineage that's been outsmarting predators since the Oligocene.