How Many Species Of Raccoon Are Found In Minnesota?

Have you ever noticed the size of some of the raccoons in Minnesota? I've seen small ones, big ones, round ones, flat ones...you get the point. The variety in sizes of trash pandas in Minnesota made me wonder if two or more different types are living in the land of 10,000 trash cans. I decided to ask the experts on Minnesota wildlife, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, about it, and here's what I got back.

Multiple Subspecies Of Raccoon In North America

When it comes to the masked bandits that prowl our neighborhoods and forests, there are 22 subspecies of raccoons in North America, and of those 22, there are about 6 that call the United States home.

The different subspecies of raccoon would explain the different sizes that we see, except there is only one subspecies that calls Minnesota home, the Upper Mississippi Valley raccoon.

Minnesota DNR States There Is Only 1 Type Of Raccoon In Minnesota

According to Minnesota DNR Research Scientist John Erb of Grand Rapids, "There is only 1 species of raccoon in MN.  Many animals, including raccoons, tend to be larger the further north you go.  There is even a fancy name for the principle – Bergmann’s rule." 

Erb, who was kind enough to elaborate in an email about the size difference that I've noticed in raccoons across portions of the state, wrote, "I swear some of our northern raccoons look like small bear cubs.  But just as for humans, deer, and all species, there are many other things besides this ‘Bergmann’s rule’ that can also cause size differences in different areas, such as food supply, habitat quality, ‘local’ genetics, presence of competitors, and so on."

Keeping Raccoons Out Of Your Trash/Garage

Thankfully, I don't have to worry about raccoons at this point where I live, as there aren't many places for an adult raccoon to live, for now. But if you are dealing with raccoon issues, some suggestions to keep them out of your trash cans are: "secure your trash cans with bungee cords, weights, or animal-proof bins, and store them indoors when possible. when possible."

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You can also use repellents to discourage raccoons from coming by. Using items like ammonia, vinegar, or predator urine would also help to keep the masked mammals away.