Raccoons are common, adaptable mammals recognized by their distinctive masked faces and ringed tails. They inhabit diverse environments, from dense forests to bustling urban areas. Their widespread presence often sparks curiosity about their physical characteristics, particularly their size.
Typical Raccoon Dimensions and Weight
Adult raccoons exhibit a range of sizes, with body lengths, excluding the tail, between 16 and 28 inches (40 to 70 cm). Their bushy, ringed tails add 7.5 to 16 inches (19 to 40 cm) to their total length. Standing on all fours, a raccoon’s shoulder height measures 9 to 12 inches (23 to 30 cm). This makes them comparable in size to a medium-sized dog, though their stocky build often makes them appear larger.
The weight of an adult raccoon ranges from 10 to 30 pounds (4.5 to 13.6 kg). Males are larger and heavier than females. An average weight for males is 15 to 40 pounds (7-18 kg), while females range from 10 to 30 pounds (4.5-14 kg).
Factors Influencing Raccoon Size
Several factors contribute to the variation observed in raccoon size across different populations. Geographic location plays a role, with raccoons living in colder, more northern climates are larger than those in warmer regions. This pattern, known as Bergmann’s Rule, suggests that larger body sizes help in heat conservation in colder environments.
Food availability also influences a raccoon’s size. Individuals with consistent access to abundant and nutritious food sources, such as those found in urban and suburban areas, grow larger and heavier. Conversely, a lack of adequate food can result in smaller, thinner raccoons. The age of a raccoon impacts its size, as older adults achieve larger dimensions compared to younger ones.
Growth Stages and Reaching Full Size
Raccoons begin their lives as small, helpless kits. At birth, a newborn kit weighs about 2 to 7 ounces (57 to 200 grams) and measures 4 to 6 inches long, excluding the tail. They are born blind and deaf, with a light covering of fur and a faint mask.
Kits grow rapidly during their first few months. Their eyes open around 3 weeks of age, and they begin to explore outside the den with their mother at 8 to 10 weeks old. While they start consuming solid food by 6 to 9 weeks, they are not fully weaned until 10 to 16 weeks of age.
Raccoons are considered to have reached their full physical size by about one to two years of age. Although they attain physical maturity, their weight can fluctuate throughout the year. They gain weight in the fall by building up fat reserves to sustain them through the leaner winter months, potentially doubling their spring weight.