The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a highly adaptable, medium-sized mammal native to North America, known for its widespread presence and ability to thrive in varied environments, from forests to bustling urban centers. Its body mass is highly variable, making it impossible to assign a single, definitive weight to a full-grown raccoon. The actual figure is influenced by genetics, geography, and the time of year.
Typical Weight Range for Adults
A healthy, full-grown raccoon typically weighs between 5 and 12 kilograms (11 to 26 pounds). This range represents the average weight of adults throughout most of North America, outside of extreme seasonal fluctuations. Males (boars) are generally heavier and larger than females (sows), demonstrating sexual dimorphism. Adult males are commonly 15 to 20 percent heavier than females in the same population. A raccoon weighing 11 kilograms (24 pounds) is considered a large adult, while a 5-kilogram (11-pound) animal is on the smaller end of the spectrum.
How Location and Season Affect Body Mass
The greatest influences on a raccoon’s body mass are habitat latitude and the seasonal cycle. Raccoons in northern climates, such as the upper Midwest and Canada, are inherently heavier than those in the South, following a biological rule regarding body size and colder environments. For example, smaller subspecies in southern Florida may weigh as little as 1.8 to 2.7 kilograms (4 to 6 pounds).
Northern raccoons must store substantial fat to survive harsh winters when food is scarce and they enter winter lethargy. This preparation involves hyperphagia, where the animal intensely increases food intake during summer and autumn. An individual can increase its body mass by up to 50 percent between summer and late fall by accumulating a thick layer of fat.
During the winter resting period, the animal lives off these reserves, causing weight to drop significantly by spring. Studies show raccoons can lose as much as half of their peak autumn weight by the time they emerge. Raccoons in temperate or southern regions, where food is available year-round and winter lethargy is less pronounced, exhibit much smaller seasonal weight swings.
Size Extremes and Other Measurements
While the typical weight range is between 11 and 26 pounds, some individuals achieve a much greater size, representing the upper limits of the species’ potential. The largest verified wild raccoon on record weighed approximately 28.4 kilograms (63 pounds). Such specimens are extremely rare, often attributed to exceptional longevity and consistent access to abundant food resources, particularly in urban or suburban settings.
For context, a captive raccoon reached a non-wild record weight of nearly 75 pounds, though this was due to specific circumstances like a thyroid condition and a diet of human junk food. Considering physical dimensions other than mass provides a fuller picture of the animal’s size.
A full-grown raccoon typically measures between 40 and 70 centimeters (16 to 28 inches) in body length, excluding the tail. The average shoulder height of an adult raccoon is between 23 and 30 centimeters (9.1 and 11.8 inches). Although a raccoon can appear much larger when its dense fur is puffed up or when it is heavily fattened for winter, these measurements confirm that its core frame is that of a compact, medium-sized mammal.