Raccoons in California in November

Yes, November is one of the best months to see raccoons in California. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 2,008 of the 20,216 sightings logged across the year (9.9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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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.

Peak month for raccoons in California

9.9%

of yearly sightings

2,008

records in November

#2

busiest month of 12

20,216

verified records a year

October 10%, November 9.9%, December 8.5%. 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, November carries 9.9% of the year's raccoons sightings, about 1.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between October and November, and it heads toward December (8.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so November is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Yes. November accounts for 2,008 of the 20,216 verified raccoons sightings logged in California across the year, which is 9.9% of the annual total.

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

November is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of October, November and January.

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.