The raccoon is a common sight in urban and suburban environments. Its nocturnal habits often lead to confusion regarding its resting and sleeping patterns. A common question when people observe these masked mammals at night is: Do they sleep with their eyes open?
Do Raccoons Sleep with Their Eyes Open?
Raccoons do not sleep with their eyes open. Like most mammals, they have eyelids and close them to achieve proper rest. The misconception likely stems from observing a raccoon that is merely resting or remaining still, but remains alert to its environment. When a raccoon is fully at rest in its den during the day, its eyes are closed.
Raccoon Sleep Habits and Resting Behavior
As primarily nocturnal animals, raccoons are active from dusk until dawn, foraging for food and exploring their territory. They are diurnal sleepers, meaning their main period of rest occurs during the daylight hours. A raccoon typically sleeps for six to eight hours per day, though this can be spread across multiple phases or extend longer during winter.
To ensure safety, raccoons seek out secure, secluded den sites. These dens are often found in hollow logs, tree cavities, abandoned burrows, or sheltered spaces in human structures, such as attics or under porches. They often curl up into a ball, which helps conserve body heat, especially when sleeping in groups.
During the harshest parts of winter, raccoons in colder climates will enter a state of torpor. This is a deep, dormant state that involves a lowered metabolic rate to conserve energy. It is not true hibernation, and they may wake up to forage on milder days.
Nocturnal Vision and the Misperception
The common belief that raccoons sleep with their eyes open is a misperception tied directly to their nocturnal vision. Raccoons, along with many other nighttime animals, possess a reflective layer in the back of the eye called the tapetum lucidum. This layer acts like a mirror, reflecting incoming light back through the retina, which gives the light-sensitive cells a second chance to absorb it. This adaptation greatly enhances their ability to see in low-light conditions.
The reflection of light off the tapetum lucidum causes the phenomenon known as “eye shine” or “eye glow” when a light source, like a flashlight or car headlights, hits the animal’s eyes. This eye shine typically appears yellow or amber, and it makes the raccoon’s eyes appear intensely watchful and fixed in the darkness. When an observer sees a raccoon at night that is still but not actively moving, the reflected light from its eyes can easily be mistaken for an open, unblinking stare, perpetuating the myth.