Raccoons are capable swimmers, though they are not considered aquatic mammals. These adaptable generalists are proficient in the water and use this skill strategically within their environment. While they do not spend the majority of their time swimming like an otter or beaver, their ability to navigate water is important for survival and foraging.
Raccoon Swimming Ability and Technique
Raccoons are strong swimmers, using a coordinated paddling motion with all four limbs to propel themselves. This technique allows them to move smoothly and steadily, often without creating much splash, which aids in stealth. They can achieve an average swimming speed of around 3 miles per hour (approximately 5 kilometers per hour).
Raccoons possess the physical capability to cross large bodies of water if necessary, though they typically prefer shallower areas and riverbanks. They can maintain their pace for moderate distances and may remain in the water for several hours if needed. Their dense fur provides insulation, helping them manage body temperature in cooler water, but they are not specialized for continuous aquatic life.
Motivation for Entering Water
The primary reasons a raccoon voluntarily enters the water are foraging and predator evasion. As omnivores, raccoons find rich food sources in riparian and marshy areas, often wading in shallow waters to hunt. They use their dexterous front paws to feel for aquatic prey, such as crayfish, frogs, insects, and mussels, along banks and stream bottoms.
Swimming is an effective tactic for escaping threats, as water provides a barrier that many terrestrial predators cannot easily cross or navigate. If pursued, a raccoon can use its swimming ability to quickly reach safety or submerge itself. They are known to dive to depths of around 5 feet to avoid detection or secure food, and they can stay submerged for a short duration.
The Misconception of Food Washing
The common sight of a raccoon dunking its food in water is often misinterpreted as a hygienic washing ritual. The scientific explanation relates to the raccoon’s highly sensitive sense of touch. Raccoons have delicate, hairless forepaws with a high density of tactile sensory receptors.
Wetting their paws dramatically increases the responsiveness of these tactile nerves, essentially acting as a sensory enhancement. This “dousing” behavior allows them to gather more detailed information about the texture, shape, and composition of the item they are holding. The scientific name for the raccoon, Procyon lotor, means “washing bear,” which is a nod to this observed but misunderstood behavior.