Best Time to See Raccoons in New York
May, April and June is the best time to see raccoons in New York. Based on 5,689 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when raccoons are most active across the year in New York.
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 · Steven Bodzin CC BY
Eastern Raccoon · Nova Patch CC BY-SA
Common Raccoon · eml23 CC BY
5,689 verified observations of raccoons in New York, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When raccoons are recorded in New York
Peak month
May
896 records (15.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 309 | 5.4% |
| February | 349 | 6.1% |
| March | 467 | 8.2% |
| Aprilpeak | 739 | 13% |
| Maypeak | 896 | 15.7% |
| Junepeak | 650 | 11.4% |
| July | 452 | 7.9% |
| August | 473 | 8.3% |
| September | 478 | 8.4% |
| October | 397 | 7% |
| November | 250 | 4.4% |
| December | 229 | 4% |
Raccoons you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Raccoon | 5,689 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in New York
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when raccoons are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for raccoons sit around 34 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 15°F | 3.7" |
| Feb | 32°F | 16°F | 3.6" |
| Mar | 41°F | 23°F | 3.8" |
| Aprbest time | 52°F | 34°F | 4.9" |
| Maybest time | 63°F | 45°F | 3.9" |
| Junbest time | 72°F | 55°F | 3.8" |
| Jul | 77°F | 61°F | 5.3" |
| Aug | 75°F | 60°F | 5.3" |
| Sep | 68°F | 53°F | 3.4" |
| Oct | 58°F | 44°F | 5.1" |
| Nov | 43°F | 30°F | 3.3" |
| Dec | 36°F | 24°F | 4.7" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for New York. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on raccoons in New York:
Sightings of raccoons in New York peak in May, when 896 of the year's 5,689 verified observations are logged — about 15.7% of the annual total. Activity stays high through May, April and June.
The quietest stretch is December, November and January, when raccoons are hardest to find — December sees just 229 records. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The raccoons you are most likely to encounter in New York are Common Raccoon — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see raccoons in New York
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail — National Scenic Trail
- Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail — National Historic Trail
- Chesapeake Bay
- Fire Island National Seashore — National Seashore
- Martin Van Buren National Historic Site — National Historic Site
- National Parks of New York Harbor
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see raccoons in New York?+
May is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through May, April and June, based on 5,689 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are raccoons hardest to see in New York?+
December is the quietest month for raccoons in New York, with only 229 verified records.
Are raccoons active year-round in New York?+
Raccoons are recorded in 12 of 12 months in New York, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in May.
More places to see raccoons
More wildlife in New York