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Stumbling upon a raccoon in your trash can is annoying, to say the least. But once you look into those beady little eyes surrounded by dark fur, you realize that raccoons are just smaller, more street-wise pandas, and they start to grow on you. Today we're celebrating nature's notorious bandits, and you'll probably love it even if you found garbage all over your driveway this morning.
'Trash panda' is not a nickname bestowed lightly on these critters. Raccoons belong to the biological suborder Caniformia, which also includes dogs, bears, and you guessed it - red pandas. Alright, so they might not be genetically related to the Beijing equivalent, but they're just as fluffy and adorable.
Raccoons may seem like instinct-driven bandits in the wild, but they're more clever than they get credit for. After being studied numerous times by ethologists throughout the 1900's, raccoons were determined to have razor sharp memory, and demonstrated the ability to remember solutions to tasks for up to 3 years - which is basically their average lifespan. The next time you feel like calling them pests, keep in mind that they'll probably remember your face, your house, where you keep your trash...
Check out the cutest raccoons we could find below, and vote for the ones that scurried away with your heart.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Jilltdcatlady 8 years ago
Looks like the latest in dog fashion accessories. The mobile ear scratcher/head petter. Top seller on AhMomZon.
Linda McDonald 8 years ago
I love raccoons. I was lucky enough to enjoy a unique experience with them some years ago. While working at the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs, MS, a couple of us used to take our lunch to the loading platform at the rear of one of the buildings which was right at the edge of the estuary. At some point, a couple of raccoons joined us occasionally, and we shared our lunches at first, but I started bringing catfood as they seemed to enjoy it. As time went on, the little gathering grew, and they started bringing their babies. They were really cute, and quite polite.. but the babies did not seem to have the natural fear of humans that the older raccoons did, and when a new guy joined us one day, he brought a large bag full of food and they ganged up on him and ate all of it. When he tried to retrieve his lunch, they hissed at him. LunchtImes were over, I kept bringing catfood and weaned them off of it slowly the rest of the summer.
Desiré Yen 8 years ago
Raccoon: Dog yr my best friend Dog: And yr mine too, raccoon Raccoon: and we will always be forever, won't we? Dog: Yeah, forever!
RELATED:
#2
Rachael Ruckman 8 years ago
You've seen spaced?!?! I've never come across another!
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Esra Fadlelmula 4 years ago
CUTE! raccon: i'm a little ball, in a rolling world, my head is dizzy, oh someone help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
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Alexis O'Cady 8 years ago
This one looks like it just walked right out of a damn Pixar movie. Too cute!
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Pi... 8 years ago
Raccoons can never have the word 'trash' associated with them, in my heart... they're just so darn cute!
Esra Fadlelmula 4 years ago
you are my teddy bear, i will take you to school, bed and to college, i dunt care if anyone laugh at me, we will kill them ok my teddy. Teddy: God damn it owner why u buy me? Buy another toy.... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.
#5
Darla Cole-Bowen 8 years ago
My fav. We raised raccoons for years. They are cute young, but once they become breeding age they can become very aggressive and cantankerous and a 45 lb. male raccoon can easily kill a dog. The pose above with the raccoon on the dogs head is something a raccoon comes by naturally as a mode of self defense. They climb on a dogs head if its in water and drown the dog. If you feel the need to keep one as a pet, you are (and they are) better off if they are spade or neutered. Your local vet can do this procedure for you.
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Arwen Lara Hogardt 8 years ago
"Mommy told me not to take from strangers..... but that looks too good to resist, Gimme that!!" :))))
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DerpyPandaLover 8 years ago
OMG I didn't know they had white ones! He looks like a puppy! He's adorable.
Lisa Shaw 8 years ago
Albino, at least a partial albino-the eyes have colour so not complete albinism. They're so cute!
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Morgan NicGregor 6 years ago
What happens when you start running low on ink halfway though the print job.
#15
ispeak catanese 8 years ago
Does anyone else want to blow bubbles for a pair of crazy racoons with me?
Vicky Zar 8 years ago
Have one at home already..... oh wait, thats my two year old. Was a bit confused by the similarities
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Madina Abduvokhidova 8 years ago
Im i only one who is seeing the camera guy's reflection on microwave
Susann Campbell 8 years ago
She is streaming on her computer. No guy in her apartment, nope not with her parents letting her live there with two raccoons.
Load More Replies... Susann Campbell 8 years ago
They deserve to have fun after doing the laundry and the dishes while she was working.
Beverly Palmacci 8 years ago
Seriously, is someone living in a studio with two raccoons???
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Jilltdcatlady 8 years ago
Party in da house, Er'body throw ya hands up! Thumpin', Pumpin' , House Rockin'.
#16
Rose Ann Sabaka 8 years ago
"Didn't know this movie was on Netflix already. Good call on the choice!"
#17
Allana Rose 8 years ago
Unlike most animals Raccoons have thumbs so they can use them like little hands!
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therealpixie 8 years ago
Yes, I know a broken bone is not adorable, but sometimes the remedy is!!
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Weim Central 8 years ago
So nice of you to have me over to your lovely home - the sea cottage motif really works in here! nom nom nom...
#23
Jilltdcatlady 8 years ago
"Oh dear, this will never stay. We'll just have to have a permanamanament." I love this!
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Terri Rowland 8 years ago
Did you see it move Fred? Nope Bob, nothing moved, oh wait I think it did..
#26
Terri Rowland 8 years ago
Hang on, I'm the little one..! It was me that says roll over then you gotta roll over and fall out...
#27
Allana Rose 8 years ago
They are such endearing creatures that cause a lot of trouble, but so dang cute you just have to forgive them!
#28
Desiré Yen 8 years ago
Down in the jungle where nobody knows there's a little raccoon looking for u...
#29
Shauday Smith 8 years ago
I do too, but it's not that simple as living in the US. While it may not be sanctioned by the state as illegal to own a particular exotic animal, the counties and cities have their own ordinances and regulations for exotic animals. So if your raccoon gets caught outside and someone calls the authorities... you're out of luck. They are independent, inquisitive as hell, and destructive. They need a lot of mental stimulation and a large outside enclosure and you should childproof your home as they get can get their little hand on anything and everything. Finding a vet who is willing to treat one can also be a thing. Rabies is rampant in raccoons so you will have to keep them up to date as they are highly susceptible to contracting it. Their independent personality won't make them the cuddly companion a dog or a cat could be... bummers all around, but knowledge is power when dealing with exotic animals that really shouldn't be pets. Still cute as hell though.
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#30
Jilltdcatlady 8 years ago
Noooo, not the foot out in the open. The monster under then bed will get it!
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Susann Campbell 8 years ago
So now that that thing is clean , give me some thing else to wash.
#33
Rose Ann Sabaka 8 years ago
"Could you cut this up in small pieces? I don't want to make a mess."
Allana Rose 8 years ago
'dear lord, please bless the hands that have prepared this bountiful feast'
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Jilltdcatlady 8 years ago
"Darlene, put ya bathrobe on if ya goin out on the back porch! Good Lord, whats tha neighbors gonna say?!"
Bartosz Wiciński 8 years ago
- Hey you! Yeah you! What are you looking at?! You've never seen a racoon taking a sunbath?! Perv!
#37
Rose Ann Sabaka 8 years ago
"Come on, give me a push." "Why, you can crawl through down here."
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Rose Ann Sabaka 8 years ago
"How long does it take for my eyes to open? I can't see where I'm going."
#40
Ginger Liddel 8 years ago
This is almost exactly how we ended up raising a baby raccoon for two weeks expect it was raining freezing cold and he was crying loudly till I ran outside and threw a towel around him and brought him in for a feeding while we called wildlife services trying to find out wtf we were supposed to do ,they told us he was too young and would have to be put down we weren't having any of that it took us two weeks and constant feedings but we finally had located the mother and she took him back , he would come back often to visit the house and have snacks .
Canadian Guy, eh 8 years ago
My wife and I saved a 2 week old baby after being hit by a car. Everyone told us the same thing about putting him down. "Screw it!" we said and kept him till we found a wildlife rehabilitator. He loved falling asleep on us. One of the best experiences in our life. IMG_0349-5...1587e5.jpg 
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Desiré Yen 8 years ago
4 little raccoons sitting in a tree, one fall off and bumped her head....
#44
Linda Sellers 8 years ago
What a beautiful little face! Yes, I could kiss💋 this little face all day long😍❗️
#45
Susann Campbell 6 years ago
Crumple up some news paper, add an empty can of corn and some orange peels and the trash panda will feel at home.
Jilltdcatlady 8 years ago
Um, sir, could you rub that around in the gunk near the gutter drain, please?
#46
Jilltdcatlady 8 years ago
Friend you haven't seen for a while: Ooooh, I didn't know you had A baaay..by... ?
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Allana Rose 8 years ago
Such a suspious look he is giving. Almost as if he is thinking, "Can I trust you?"
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Raqueen 3 years ago
HOW DOES THIS ONLY HAVE 57 POINTS!!! IT SHOULD BE RATED 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 POINTS
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Rose Ann Sabaka 8 years ago
"You go to the left and I'll go to the right, then we'll sneak up on him."
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Wyndmere 8 years ago
"Bwahahahaharrr. Welcome to my lair. You... are dessert." Says the pit monster.
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ConfusedPanda 8 years ago
Why is someone downvoting every one of your comments?
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Rose Ann Sabaka 8 years ago
"Oh no....oh no.....you're not going to take my temperature, are you?"
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Desiré Yen 8 years ago
I can squeeze, through, I know I can, positive thoughts.... Note to self to get that raccoon slimmers diet!
#69
Tjanna Brooks 8 years ago
They are called Waschbär, because they wash their food. So I think he can look grumpy about being washed.
Manuela Simon 8 years ago
In German racoon = wash(ing) bear, but he doesn't look so happy about being washed...
#71
Wyndmere 8 years ago
Yeah. We want to 'eat' the cockles and mussles... alive, alive, oh. - Not collect them.
Load More Replies... Desiré Yen 8 years ago
It's Monday, really a shell? What on raccoons earth am I going to do with a shell😕
#72
Andi Shechter 8 years ago
Can we take a moment of your time to talk about Rascal, our personal deity?
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Desiré Yen 8 years ago
Person: Baby raccoon u were adopted... Raccoon: Really u don't say, I was wondering why u don't have any fur!
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Wyndmere 8 years ago
I have the tail, and your truck has the gate. Party ON!
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Add New Image
What do you think ?
jacluckycat 8 years ago
Rarely do i take the time to upvote every picture but this article is pure boredpanda gold
Virgil Blue 8 years ago
Rocket is the most adorable violent psychopath ever.
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Pi... 8 years ago
So adorable! My heart is goin squeee n my brain is goin awwww... so I'm basically going squawww
💖 Stacy Rae 💖 8 years ago
You described what I'm feeling perfectly. Thank you, I couldn't put it into words.
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Mari Bradford 8 years ago
My dad was a Foerster when I was young and he found one abandoned and brought him home. 30 years ago and thinking of it I can still smell the formula I fed him. We had all wood floors so nights weren't much fun😂. I still miss Toby
Belinda Marie McLaughlin Knoblock 8 years ago
We had one when we were kids. I thought he was cute and funny, but he wasn't cuddly. He was a bundle of teeth and claws most of the time. My brother and one of our beagles liked to play with him. I liked to watch him. We would go to the creek and catch crawdads and minnows for him. He would "fish" for them with his soft little hands.
Sally Vogel 8 years ago
These are darling...but almost all of them are young. I'll bet there are a lot of sad endings to the relationships as adult raccoons rarely make good pets. People should not be encouraged to try it. I caught a baby once, thinking to raise it as a pet, but fortunately good sense kicked in and I released it to its mother the next night.
StarryEyedDreamer 8 years ago
Life span: In the wild, a raccoon has a life expectancy of about 2 to 3 years, but in captivity a raccoon can live up to20 years
Load More Replies... jacluckycat 8 years ago
Rarely do i take the time to upvote every picture but this article is pure boredpanda gold
Virgil Blue 8 years ago
Rocket is the most adorable violent psychopath ever.
Load More Replies... Pi... 8 years ago
So adorable! My heart is goin squeee n my brain is goin awwww... so I'm basically going squawww
💖 Stacy Rae 💖 8 years ago
You described what I'm feeling perfectly. Thank you, I couldn't put it into words.
Load More Replies... Mari Bradford 8 years ago
My dad was a Foerster when I was young and he found one abandoned and brought him home. 30 years ago and thinking of it I can still smell the formula I fed him. We had all wood floors so nights weren't much fun😂. I still miss Toby
Belinda Marie McLaughlin Knoblock 8 years ago
We had one when we were kids. I thought he was cute and funny, but he wasn't cuddly. He was a bundle of teeth and claws most of the time. My brother and one of our beagles liked to play with him. I liked to watch him. We would go to the creek and catch crawdads and minnows for him. He would "fish" for them with his soft little hands.
Sally Vogel 8 years ago
These are darling...but almost all of them are young. I'll bet there are a lot of sad endings to the relationships as adult raccoons rarely make good pets. People should not be encouraged to try it. I caught a baby once, thinking to raise it as a pet, but fortunately good sense kicked in and I released it to its mother the next night.
StarryEyedDreamer 8 years ago
Life span: In the wild, a raccoon has a life expectancy of about 2 to 3 years, but in captivity a raccoon can live up to20 years
Load More Replies...
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