Raccoons in Pennsylvania: Where to Look and What Signs to Watch For

Raccoons are highly adaptable and occur statewide. They prefer areas with a nearby water source such as rivers, creeks, or lakes. Dense forests with large hollow trees provide ideal denning sites, but they also adapt to urban environments, often using attics or under decks. Good spots include wooded areas in Pennsylvania state parks like Ricketts Glen or Cook Forest. They are particularly fond of edge habitats where forests meet fields or residential areas, as these locations provide a variety of food sources and easy access to cover. In the more mountainous regions of the state, they are frequently found along the rocky banks of mountain streams where they hunt for crayfish and aquatic insects.

Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, so your best odds are during twilight and overnight. They are most active from dusk to dawn. In Pennsylvania, they remain active year-round, though less visible during harsh winter storms when they den for days. Early spring is a good time as they emerge more to feed and begin the breeding season. Use a red-filtered flashlight to observe without disturbing them. For more on timing, check our Pennsylvania wildlife page. During the summer, you might occasionally see them during the day, especially nursing mothers who need extra calories to support their growing kits. However, if you see a raccoon during the day that appears confused or aggressive, it is best to keep your distance.

Beginners can identify raccoon activity by tracks, droppings, and den signs. Their tracks are distinctive: five long toes on each foot, resembling a human handprint with claw marks. Look along muddy banks and soft garden soil. Scat is tubular, often with undigested seeds or insect shells. Raccoons also leave scratch marks on trees and may pile leaves at a tree base indicating a den. Learn more about raccoon identification. You might also notice "bandit trails" through tall grass or flattened areas in berry patches where they have been feeding. In suburban areas, tipped-over bird feeders or scattered trash are sure signs that a raccoon has been visiting during the night.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Raccoon tracks are easy once you know the pattern. The front paw has five spaced toes with an offset heel pad; the hind paw is similar but longer. In mud or snow, prints show a clear handlike impression. Scat is dark, 1-2 inches long, often on logs or rocks, containing berry seeds or insect parts. Never handle scat directly as it can contain parasites like raccoon roundworm. For detailed identification, visit our raccoon guide. The tracks are often found in pairs, with the hind foot landing next to the opposite front foot as the animal walks. This unique gait makes their trails easy to distinguish from other mid-sized mammals like opossums or foxes.

Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores. They eat fruits, nuts, insects, frogs, crayfish, bird eggs, and garbage. Diet changes with seasons: summer berries and insects, fall high-fat foods like acorns and hickory nuts. Den sites include hollow trees, rock crevices, abandoned buildings, and chimneys. A female dens alone or with young. Look for den entrances with scratch marks or worn bark on the trunk. Check our Pennsylvania wildlife page for more habitats. In Pennsylvania's agricultural areas, they are known to feast on standing corn, often pulling the stalks down to reach the ears. Their ability to manipulate objects with their paws allows them to open mussels and clams found in the state's larger river systems.