raccoon

Everyday

A raccoon is a grey furry animal from North America with a black "mask" across its eyes and a bushy striped tail. tree →

In the lessons

Used in science and nature: raccoons are omnivores and nocturnal (active at night); they often wash or feel food with their front paws. In everyday life in the USA and Canada, raccoons raid rubbish bins. Safety: do not touch or feed wild raccoons; they can bite and carry disease.

Examples

• A raccoon tipped over our bin last night. tree →
• Raccoons have black masks and striped tails. tree →
• Raccoons are nocturnal, so they come out at night. tree →
• Do not try to pet a wild raccoon. tree →
• The raccoon used its paws like hands. tree →
• Raccoons eat fruit, insects, eggs and food scraps. tree →
• We saw raccoon tracks in the snow. tree →
• De raccoon totes a bushy tail, De 'possum totes no ha'r, Mr. Rabbit, he come skippin' by, He ain't got none ter spar'. tree →

Note

Countable. Also spelled "racoon" in British English. Young raccoons are called kits. Raccoons are wild animals, not pets in most places.