Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are 2.5 to 4 feet long (nose to tail) and weigh 10 to 30 lbs. Body color ranges from grayish-yellow to gray and white with a black face mask and black ringed tail.

Raccoons are nocturnal and primarily active at night. Raccoons are a target species for rabies. Call Animal Control to report raccoons exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior.

Raccoons breed in February or March. Gestation is 9 weeks. Raccoons establish dens and young are born in April and May. Young often stay with their mother the first year and den together over winter. Young raccoons become independent the following spring.

Raccoons are omnivorous. A natural diet includes fruits, berries, plants, grains and nuts, insects, fish, invertebrates, frogs, turtles, small mammals, birds and eggs. A modified diet can include pet food, garbage, and bird feeder seeds.

Raccoons inhabit woodlands, wetlands, rural, suburban and urban areas of Fairfax County. Raccoons are highly adaptive in urban environments.

For information on managing wildlife interactions and resolving human-wildlife conflicts, the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline is available toll-free at (855) 571-9003, 8:00AM-4:30PM, Monday through Friday.This helpline is a collaborative effort between the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Wildlife Services.