Procyonidae – Raccoons
These purported cousins of the bears family inhabit a wide range in the New World
Procyonids are small to medium-sized omnivores with rather large tails. In different languages, raccoons are called washing bears (as they wash their food before eating), nose bears, and honey bears; clearly, they’ve quite a bear-centric reputation. But in reality, they’re proven to be more closely associated with skunks than with bears. Red pandas were also once grouped here with them (some classifications still follow this trend).
Raccoons are omnivorous and can eat various consumables, making them fit for city life. Yes! Raccoons cohabitate in cities with humans and thrive alongside the city bustle. Only one species (the Cozumel raccoon) of this family faces an existential threat.
Genera in this family
Native to Central and South America (Nicaragua to Peru) are some of the rarest animals that you can encounter
Juveniles mortality in the genus is exceptionally high; danger includes being hunted by adult males
The Common raccoon has adapted to urban life, while the two other species live in jungles
‘Bassaris’ is a Greek word for ‘fox’, but they are not related to foxes
Has a spooky nickname, “La Llorona,” meaning crying woman in Spanish due to their noisy barks, hisses, and high-pitched squeaks
