Raccoons in South Carolina: Where to Look and What Signs to Watch For

Raccoons thrive across the state, but your best bets are near water sources like rivers, creeks, and marshes. They favor mixed hardwood forests with large trees for denning. In the upstate, look around the Chattooga River and Sumter National Forest. In the Lowcountry, try Francis Marion National Forest or along the Santee River. They also adapt well to suburban areas with ponds and trash bins.

Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, with peak activity from dusk through midnight. In spring and summer, they may be seen earlier if feeding hungry young. During fall, they spend more time foraging to build fat reserves. Early morning returns to dens can also yield sightings, especially near den trees. For reliable viewing, set up near a water source about 30 minutes before sunset.

Raccoon tracks look like tiny human handprints: five long toes and a large palm pad. Front prints are about 2–3 inches wide, rear prints slightly longer. Look for them in mud along stream banks or sandy trails. Other signs include scratched tree bark (from climbing), latrines at the base of trees or on logs, and overturned rocks or logs where they hunted for grubs. Their scat is blunt-ended and often contains seeds or insect parts.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores. Their diet shifts with the seasons: crayfish, frogs, and insects near water in spring; berries, fruits, and nuts in summer and fall; and small mammals, eggs, and human scraps year-round. In coastal areas, they also eat crabs and clams. Watching where a raccoon is feeding can help you spot them - look for overturned leaf litter or tipped trash cans.

Late spring and early summer offer the best sightings because mothers are active during the day feeding kits, and juveniles begin exploring. Fall is also good as raccoons bulk up for winter and become less nocturnal. Winter sightings are rarer but possible on warm afternoons. In South Carolina's mild climate, raccoons do not truly hibernate, so you can find them year-round.