Raccoons are intelligent critters and, because they don’t face many threats, there are plenty of them all over most of North America. Although they can be entertaining to watch, they can be pests (especially when it comes to garbage cans) and also are known to carry dangerous diseases. Here are some interesting facts to help you get to know the clever raccoon.

1. They Are Opportunistic Eaters

Raccoons are omnivores and opportunistic eaters, which means they feed on whatever is most convenient. Their meals include nuts, berries, fruits, acorns, grasshoppers, mice, fish, frogs, insects, small mammals, and ground-dwelling birds and their eggs. Raccoons are also adept scavengers. They rummage through garbage cans and compost piles and steal pet food left outside overnight. They climb bird feeders and dine on birdseed, as well.

2. They Seem to Wash Their Food Before Eating It

Procyon lotor (lotor meaning “the washerman), is the Latin name for the raccoon. If you watch raccoons eating you’ll notice that they often seem to wash their food before dining. If there’s no water around, they still go through the same motions, moving their forepaws around on their food and lifting it up and down. However, researchers say it’s not a cleanliness habit that drives this behavior. 

Wildlife biologists believe that raccoons have sensitive nerves on the fingers of their front paws. When they forage for food in water, they feel around with their paws to gather sensory information. In a study of 136 raccoons, researchers in Nova Scotia found that wetting the skin on the raccoon’s front paws helped increase the responsiveness of those nerves. But even when there’s no water around, the dunking ritual helps them grip their food and get it to their mouths.

3. They Live Nearly Anywhere

Raccoons live throughout the continental U.S., except in parts of the Rocky Mountains and the deserts, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. They also call Canada and Central America home. They’re not picky about where they live, as long as there’s water nearby. Raccoons make their dens in the ground, hollow trees, or crevices in rocks. In more urban areas, they venture into homes and make dens in attics, chimneys, and crawl spaces underneath houses.

4. Their Masks Are Anti-Glare Devices

Raccoons are known for their bandit-like dark face masks. One theory for why raccoons have masks is that the distinctive dark markings help deflect the sun’s glare and also may enhance night vision. Additionally, some researchers have theorized that dark masks work in animals to hide their eyes from predators. However, a study published in Biological Journal concluded that the dark patterns are most likely anti-glare devices.

5. They Are Intelligent Animals

Raccoons are incredibly smart. Some scholars even suggest that their discriminatory abilities are equal, if not superior, to those of domestic cats.

In a 2017 study published in the journal Animal Cognition, researchers assessed eight captive raccoons for causal understanding. The raccoons were shown a cylinder filled with water containing a marshmallow that was too low to grasp. Then, the researchers demonstrated that if they dropped pebbles into the cylinder, the water level would rise so that the treat was within the raccoons’ grasp. Two raccoons learned how to drop stones to get the treat. A third found an even easier way: she tipped over the tube to access the marshmallow more quickly. The researchers concluded that the raccoons were “innovative in many aspects of this task.”

6. They Are Very Handy

Raccoons have five toes on their front and back paws. Their forepaws are particularly dexterous and actually look and work like slender human hands. They use their nimble finger-like toes to hold and manipulate food, as well as a range of objects, including latches, lids, jars, boxes, and doorknobs. That’s why they seem to be able to get into pretty much anywhere and are easily able to lift the tops off garbage cans and open all sorts of containers.

7. They Stick to Themselves

Raccoons are mostly solitary animals. As nocturnal creatures, they rarely venture out during the daytime, and they try to stay close to their den, only traveling far enough to get what they need to eat and drink.

Occasionally, groups of female raccoons spend time together, but each female will split off from the group when it’s time to breed and raise her young. Females stay with their babies (called kits) until they’re about one year old. Males may stay with the female for up to one month before breeding, then depart after the birth of their young.

8. They Face Few Threats

Although so many animal populations have been diminished because of human urbanization and growth, raccoons have readily adapted to living alongside people. According to the IUCN, the Northern raccoon is a species of “least concern,” and its population numbers are rising.

While there are no major threats to the survival of raccoons, they do face dangers. They are hunted for sport and trapped for their fur. In suburban locations and near water, raccoons are one of the more frequent victims of roadkill. Additionally, raccoons are often hunted, trapped, and poisoned by homeowners and farmers who consider them a pest. In other human environments, they’re considered pest control, like in the San Diego Zoo, where they help manage rodent populations.

9. They Like Urban Settings

Raccoons have enjoyed an “astonishing” surge in urban and suburban areas over the past 80 years, according to zoologist Sam Zeveloff. Because they’re so intelligent, the urban-dwelling ones are developing skills that their rural counterparts don’t have; they’re figuring out how to navigate human-made obstacles. They adapt to a vast range of sleeping spots, use their agile fingers to open garbage cans and enter garages and other buildings, and climb fire escapes. Toronto, which has been overrun by raccoons, has earned the unfortunate title of “raccoon capital of the world,” and the city’s mayor has even declared a war on raccoons in which “defeat is not an option.”

10. They Have a Lot of Babies

Raccoons are more likely to reproduce than many other wild animals. They breed only once per year, but a female will give birth to three or four babies on average. Often she waits till the last minute to find a den to give birth, which is why urban structures are so appealing; they have many immediately-accessible hiding spots. The mother raccoon is fiercely maternal and will cause immense damage if separated from her offspring. Babies stay with their mother throughout their first winter before venturing off on their own.

11. They Carry Diseases and Parasites

After bats, raccoons are the second most frequently reported rabid wildlife species, according to the CDC. They can carry it without any outward signs or symptoms. Human rabies cases are rare in the United States, however. Between 2009 and 2019, only 25 cases of human rabies were reported in the U.S., and just two of those cases were associated with raccoons.

Raccoons can also carry raccoon roundworm, a serious disease that can cause neurological damage. It spreads through the ingestion of soil or other materials contaminated with an infected raccoon’s feces. In addition, raccoons may carry leptospirosis and distemper. To keep your family and pets safe, wash your hands after spending time outdoors, teach young children not to put soil in their mouths, and keep your pets vaccinated.

When one expectant mom woke up recently, it wasn’t to the sound of an alarm—or even her toddler. It was her cats.

In a TikTok posted by @brownsfam on August 19 (now with over 3.3 million views), the mom of two—pregnant with her third—filmed her cats perched on her bump, kneading away. As their paws pressed down, her unborn baby kicked back, as if saying hello to his furry siblings.

She captioned the moment: “POV: You’re woken up to your cats doing this while your baby boy kicks them back.” In the comments, she admitted, “They do it every night.”

Related: Cat sees postpartum mom struggling to pump—and does something unbelievable

Parents everywhere couldn’t get enough of the interaction. 

@shelley1219 wrote: “I’m 37 weeks and this happened for the first time last night with my 2 fur babies. My human baby must have thought he was getting jumped because he was kicking with all his might for dear life.” 

Another @xbinky17x86  joked: “They are telling their new best friend to hurry up.”

Can cats really sense pregnancy?

While there’s no definitive scientific proof that cats know a baby is on the way, experts say it’s not impossible. Cats have an incredibly strong sense of smell, and some research suggests they may detect hormonal changes, shifts in body temperature, and even new routines during pregnancy.

Registered nurse and maternity photographer Dayne Adams told Newsweek that in his studio, their resident cat often kneads the bellies of pregnant clients: “Maybe it’s science. Maybe it’s instinct. But after seeing what we’ve seen, I wouldn’t bet against a cat’s intuition.”

The sweet role pets can play in prenatal bonding

For many moms-to-be, pregnancy can feel isolating, and moments like this remind us that connection starts early. A baby’s first “hello” might not just be for their parents—it can be for the pets who are already family. This kind of interaction can help parents feel supported and even imagine the bond their child will share with their pets one day.

Related: New mom’s Reddit post about resenting her pets is met with empathy from fellow moms

Safety and what parents should know

Of course, many pregnant moms worry about toxoplasmosis, a parasite sometimes carried in cat feces. The CDC recommends avoiding litter box duty during pregnancy or wearing gloves and washing hands thoroughly afterward. But cuddling on the couch—or in this case, a belly kneading session—is safe and often comforting.

Kneading, often called “making biscuits,” is a cat’s way of soothing themselves. For expectant moms, it can feel like an unexpected but sweet reminder: your baby is already surrounded by love.

Source:

1. CDC. 2025. “About Toxoplasmosis.”
2. Cat Protection. “Do cats know you’re pregnant?”

Research shows a surprising number of cats are keen to enjoy a game of fetch

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Featured Photo sophiecat/Shutterstock

The revelation followed Delgado’s adoption of three sister kittens from an animal shelter. She was amazed to see them engage in classic fetch behaviour more commonly associated with dogs: they would bring her their toy mice to be thrown, then run to retrieve them. Despite being a lifelong cat owner, she had never seen any of her cats fetch before. 

Intrigued, Delgado set out to explore how common this behaviour is among domestic cats, teaming up with colleagues Judith Stella, senior research scientist, and Candace Croney, professor and director of the Center for Animal Welfare Sciences, along with James Serpell from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

The study found 41% of cats fetch.

Using data previously gathered by Serpell, the researchers looked at how frequently cat fetching was reported by pet owners and set out to determine what characteristics made cats more or less likely to fetch. Their findings, recently published in the journal PLOS One, were titled in reference to the movie Mean Girls: “Making Fetch Happen: Prevalence and Characteristics of Fetching Behavior in Owned Domestic Cats (Felis catus) and Dogs (Canis familiaris).”

Their research, which surveyed 8,224 cat owners and 73,724 dog owners, revealed that:

• Approximately 41% of cats and 78% of dogs fetch
• Cat breeds most likely to fetch include Abyssinians, Bengals, Siamese, & Siberians
• Both male cats and dogs fetch more often than females
• Younger animals fetch more frequently
• Living with dogs decreases fetching behaviours in both cats and dogs
• Indoor cats are more likely to fetch than outdoor cats

Though cats are often thought to be standoffish, this research shows that our kitties really do enjoy social interactions with people—and many are more eager to retrieve than you might expect. 

Though cats are often thought to be standoffish, this research shows that our kitties really do enjoy social interactions with people.

“Bringing a toy to us is a social request,” says Delgado. “A lot of people mischaracterize cats as being aloof or independent, and in truth, they really do enjoy these interactions with their owners.” 

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!

 

Did you know that “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish? Or that the fascinating animal’s armor consists of bony plates covered in keratin? There are about 20 species of armadillo, and all of them descend from South American ancestors. Armadillos are diverse in size, behavior, and habitat too. These, and other facts about the armadillo are unknown to many people. But, below, we’ll tell you 13 things that are a delight to discover about the curious creatures.

For example, the IUCN considers two species of armadillo vulnerable and five as near threatened. Five additional species are data deficient and likely threatened. In 2016, scientists divided the greater long-nosed armadillo into three separate species. Scientists have not evaluated those species since the new classification.

Here are 13 interesting facts to know about the strange-looking armadillo.

1. Only One Armadillo Species Is Found in the United States

The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the only armadillo species that migrated to North America. It was long limited to humid subtropical areas of the United States. Now, these armadillos are found as far north as Nebraska and Illinois. Warmer winters caused by climate change may further expand their range.

They always give birth to identical young formed from the splitting of a single fertilized egg. Among mammals, this reproduction method is unique to nine-banded and other Dasypus armadillos. When startled, the nine-banded armadillo jumps 3-4 feet straight up.

2. Brazilian Three-Banded Armadillos Are Lazarus Species

Brazilian three-banded armadillos were believed extinct until 1988. Since then, researchers have found scattered, small populations. Animals that are wrongly believed extinct are called Lazarus species.

The Brazilian three-banded armadillo is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and considered endangered by Brazil. The total population is unknown because of the difficulties in accurately counting this nocturnal animal. Much of its habitat is being converted to sugarcane and soybean fields. Poaching is another significant threat to the species.

3. Giant Glyptodonts Are The Armadillo’s Extinct Kin

Glyptodonts were heavily armored, dinosaur-sized, early mammals. In 2016, scientists determined glyptodonts were a subfamily of armadillos that first appeared 35 million years ago. They became extinct around the end of the last ice age, while their smaller and more lightly armored relatives survived. Humans hunted these two-ton animals for meat. They then created shelters from the bony carapace.

4. Armadillos Sleep Up to 16 Hours Each Day

As nocturnal animals, armadillos perform most activities — foraging, eating, burrowing, mating — at night. During the daylight hours, they spend up to 16 hours sleeping, usually in burrows. Armadillos rarely share their burrows with other armadillos, although they do share them with tortoises, snakes, and rats. When awake, armadillos spend more time foraging than most mammals. Only two marsupials and ground squirrels spend more active time feeding.

5. Armadillos Spread Leprosy

Armadillos are the only nonhuman animals to spread leprosy, now called Hansen’s Disease. The bacteria that causes the disease thrives due to the armadillo’s low body temperature. Researchers believe armadillos acquired Hansen’s disease from 15th-century explorers. Humans contract armadillo-borne Hansen’s disease by hunting them or eating their meat. In some cases, people become infected from inhaling armadillo fecal spores.

6. Only 2 Species of Armadillo Are Capable of Rolling Into a Ball

A common myth is that armadillos curl up into tight balls and roll away. None actively choose to roll away from predators. The only armadillos able to curl into tight balls are two species belonging to the Tolypeutes genus. These are commonly known as the Brazilian and Southern three-banded armadillos. All other armadillo species have too many plates, making this level of flexibility impossible.

7. The Giant Armadillo Is the Largest of the Species

Giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus) are the largest living armadillos, weighing 45 to 130 pounds in the wild. In captivity, they’ve reached 176 pounds. They extend nearly 5.9 feet long, including their tail. Their 8-inch middle front claws are the longest claws of any mammal.

IUCN lists the giant armadillo as a vulnerable species. Their primary threats are hunting for meat and habitat loss. Additionally, poaching for the illegal pet trade further jeopardizes these giants.

8. The Pink Fairy Armadillo Is the Smallest of the Species

The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) is named for its pink armor and size. It measures between 4 and 6 inches in length and weighs about 3.5 ounces. In addition to the armor on their back, they have a vertical rump plate used to backfill burrows.

The species lives in the sandy plain and scrubby grasslands of central Argentina. IUCN lists these rarely seen armadillos as data deficient, but indicators suggest the species may qualify as near threatened. The species is primarily under threat due to habitat loss, while the animal’s popularity on social media has led to an increasing number being captured for pets — a situation in which most of them die within eight days.

9. This Amadillo Screams to Warn Off Predators

The screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus) has more than armor as a defense. It has a pair of screeching lungs. Anytime this species perceives a threat, it emits extremely loud, alarm-like vocalizations. Hunters trap this species for its meat and carapace. Despite this harvest, it is a species of least concern across most of its range, covering portions of Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina.

10. Pichi Are the Only Armadillo Species to Hibernate

Armadillos spend most of their lives sleeping, but the pichi (Zaedyus pichiy) takes it a step further by hibernating every winter. After building up fat stores and settling down in a burrow, the pichi’s body temperature drops from 95 degrees to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. These armadillos also enter daily states of torpor, a type of mini-hibernation.

This species is found in the Patagonian Steppe and Pampas.

11. Some Armadillo Species Are at Risk for Extinction

While the nine-banded armadillo population currently thrives, other species aren’t as lucky. IUCN lists the Brazilian three-banded and giant armadillo as vulnerable. The Pichi, Southern long-nosed, Northern long-nosed, Southern three-banded, and Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo species are listed as near threatened. Five additional species are data-deficient and potentially endangered as well.

Hunting and habitat loss are the primary threats to armadillos. Mining and deforestation for palm oil plantations, cattle ranching, and other agro-industry factors are the primary drivers of habitat loss. Unfortunately, mining has increased due to the demand for copper to use in electronics.

12. Armadillo Shells Are Used to Make Musical Instruments

Known as charangos, these 10-stringed instruments are an integral part of traditional Andean music in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. While they were once commonly made from an armadillo’s dried shell, contemporary charangos are generally made with wood or sometimes calabash gourds.

Armadillo shells are also used to make carnival rattles called matracas. In 2015, it became illegal to own or sell new armadillo matracas.

13. Armadillos Are Good Swimmers

Armadillos are good swimmers and can hold their breath for 4-6 minutes. They walk underwater across the bottom of streams. When facing larger bodies of water, they gulp air to create buoyancy and then dog paddle. This ability to swim allowed them to expand their range. Armadillos crossing the Rio Grande led to the nine-banded armadillo expanding across the United States during the 20th century.