Raccoons in California in April

Yes, April is a good month to see raccoons in California. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 1,718 of the 20,216 sightings logged across the year (8.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Common Raccoon photographed in CaliforniaCommon Raccoon photographed in CaliforniaCommon Raccoon photographed in California
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for raccoons in California

8.5%

of yearly sightings

1,718

records in April

#5

busiest month of 12

20,216

verified records a year

March 7.5%, April 8.5%, May 7.4%. Busiest month is October at 10%.

Best months: October, November, January

20,216 verified observations of raccoons in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When raccoons are recorded in California

Peak month

October

2,018 records (10% of the year)

Quietest month

July

1,329 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak1,9529.7%
February1,6898.4%
March1,5117.5%
April1,7188.5%
May1,5007.4%
June1,4477.2%
July1,3296.6%
August1,4067%
September1,9269.5%
Octoberpeak2,01810%
Novemberpeak2,0089.9%
December1,7128.5%

Raccoons you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Raccoon20,216

In California, April carries 8.5% of the year's raccoons sightings, about 0.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between March and April, and it heads toward May (7.4%) after. The busiest month is October (10%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The raccoons most often recorded in California are Common Raccoon. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which raccoons you are most likely to see

  • Common Raccoon20,216 records
Plan your tripAlcatraz Island

Plan your raccoon trip in California

Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see raccoons in California in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 1,718 of the 20,216 verified raccoons sightings logged in California across the year, which is 8.5% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see raccoons in California?+

April is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though October and November is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for raccoons in California?+

October is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through October, November and January, based on 20,216 verified observations.

Which raccoons are you most likely to see in California?+

The most-recorded species in California are Common Raccoon, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.