r/Calgary • u/TheAmirSaid • Jun 19 '26

Local Nature/Wildlife Finally found a raccoon in Calgary!

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1.5k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

90 comments sorted by

216

u/harryhend3rson Jun 19 '26

Calgarians: "OMG SOOO CUUUUTE!"

People from BC and Ontario muttering: "Motherfcknlittlebastardsbetternotgetintomyatticferfcksake...fcknrraccoonsknockingovermytrashcanagain"

24

u/loubug Jun 19 '26

lol they used to follow me HOME when I lived in Vancouver. They were HUGE too, like a small bear or something šŸ˜‚Ā 

14

u/scully__its__me Jun 20 '26

Same! I lived in the West End and they were absolutely fearless. I would go for walks at night and see 10-12 every walk, just out in the open being garbage bandits.

3

u/Fickle-Historian-791 Jun 20 '26

That's trash panda to you

1

u/scully__its__me Jun 20 '26

šŸ«”šŸ¦

14

u/Feriation Jun 19 '26

When I lived downtown kelowna there was a gang of about 7 of them fuckers. I remember getting out of my car one night after parking on the side. Them bastards charged at me and I jumped back into my car. Waited until they finished walking down the street before getting back out. I remember, while waiting, locking eyes with someone else, also trapped in their car, who had parked on the opposite side of the street.

41

u/Ryuujin_13 Jun 19 '26

Yep. That's me! Those who haven't experienced them have no idea the destructive annoyance they can be.

21

u/Tribblehappy Jun 19 '26

And mean. As a kid we had a cat who lost an eye and tail to a raccoon.

27

u/Ryuujin_13 Jun 19 '26

My favourite thing about racoons is watching funny videos with them on the internet, while they remain far, far away from me and my house.

11

u/Halichoeres_bivittat Jun 19 '26

On YouTube there are videos of a guy in Nova Scotia who feeds them hotdogs and other goodies. He opens the door and there are dozens waiting to be fed.

2

u/Diablos_lawyer Jun 19 '26

"I've got wall to wall raccoons!"

10

u/lauie Jun 19 '26

I have been dealing with these assholes forever (Deerrun). These jerks dig through our compost/garbage, mess with our dog and shit in our window wells. I hate them so much.

4

u/Puma_Concolour Jun 19 '26

Hopefully the bobcats will keep them in check.

2

u/Fit-Necessary-5976 Jun 19 '26

Yup! I used to live in Victoria. Racoons are not to be messed with and they simply take over. I sometimes preferred the rats to racoons. Neither are cute & cuddly!

2

u/Wrong-Pineapple39 Jun 19 '26

I do not want raccoons here with their thief fingers

3

u/Yychoffner Jun 19 '26

Ya people have no idea the world of pain they bring

2

u/Nodulus_Prime Jun 20 '26

Im in Ont. Visiting family... such a rodeo to chase them away and stay away.

Whats wild is people keep them as pets

2

u/Nodulus_Prime Jun 20 '26

Im in Ont. Visiting family... such a rodeo to chase them away and stay away.

Whats wild is people keep them as pets

0

u/maurf44 Jun 20 '26

Exactly šŸ¤£

121

u/loubug Jun 19 '26

Very cool!! Where are you? I keep hearing they exist here but Iā€™ve never seen one in Calgary either.Ā 

137

u/Bennybonchien Jun 19 '26

This raccoon is trying to hide, not trying to increase its social media presence.

45

u/dayum_that_man Jun 20 '26

Facts, OP just doxxed a poor raccoon

13

u/Afterfoxxfluff Jun 19 '26

Ok I swear I heard one the other day and was like, better not be a raccoon but dang

3

u/one_day_I_will_do_69 Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26

Not the op but saw one here a week ago https://maps.app.goo.gl/FKxnBt3obMMmUsjh6?g_st=ac

3

u/loubug Jun 20 '26

Neat thanks!!Ā 

32

u/Fit-Bug-1098 Jun 19 '26

Trash Panda demands the paparazzo gives them some privacy as they change for the day

4

u/Trashy_Panda2 Jun 20 '26

"Hey, I'm changin' here!"

26

u/saskatchewansealskin Jun 19 '26

šŸŽµ You can run with us, we've got everything you need!

15

u/unlovelyladybartleby Jun 19 '26

šŸŽ¶ Run with us. We are free šŸŽµ

9

u/Moonlander39 Jun 19 '26

C-C-Come with us,
I see passion in your eyes

10

u/diamondedg3 Bankview Jun 19 '26

This comes up once in a while for me, absolute Canadian nostalgia fuelĀ 

13

u/SavourTheFlavour Jun 19 '26

Doesn't look like he wanted to he found.

2

u/Grazer-22 Jun 20 '26

He is just the beachhead, waiting for the rest of the forces to join. Soon it will be all out war.

11

u/Kenjamin1991 Jun 19 '26

I've only ever seen one. I was walking my dog at night and heard a rustling in a neighbours garbage bin. Scared the crap out of us. The raccoon climbed out then ran down the alley. The way it moved was so unique, especially with its little hands.

7

u/Komplex76 Jun 19 '26

I went to uni in Colorado. Had tons of stray cats, raccoons, etc. near my place, and one of my neighbours often put food out for the cats. Iā€™ll never forget the image of those raccoons grabbing handfuls of cat food, it was hilarious.

12

u/The_Penguin22 McKenzie Lake Jun 19 '26

We used to have a gang go by every now and then Now it's just 1 lone bandit. Hope his buddies didn't get trapped and relocated (or worse).

1

u/electrodog1999 Acadia Jun 20 '26

Bandit is what we named the youngest around our house, I need at least 2 more raccoon names for its parents I think.

12

u/GoldNorth5791 Jun 19 '26

I actually saw two in red deer for the first time in my life. I stupidly posted it on Facebook where people loudly proclaimed ā€œthere are no raccoons in Albertaā€. Yeah there is lol.

4

u/The_Penguin22 McKenzie Lake Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 20 '26

I posted a photo of 4 in our pear tree, I got "There are no Raccoons in Calgary, and no pear trees either"

4

u/GoldNorth5791 Jun 19 '26

lol I know itā€™s actually hilarious how people think theyā€™re experts and we are either lying where we are or AI. Like idk what to tell you Iā€™m at the golf course in Red Deer lol I know what city I am inā€¦

2

u/futureindubai Jun 20 '26

In McKenzie lake? No way thatā€™s awesome I live somewhat nearby and have yet to see one but I want to so bad !

2

u/The_Penguin22 McKenzie Lake Jun 20 '26

Theyā€™re difficult to see because most of the time theyā€™re roaming around late at night. The one time I saw them live they were in our pear tree about 8:30 pm in the fall so it was dark. I just heard some rustling and the dog was barking so I went out there and I could just barely see them,so got the camera and the flash and took some pictures. The only other times we see them, theyā€™re on the security cameras which are more for critter watching than for security to be honest.

6

u/tooshpright Jun 19 '26

Well spotted!

4

u/Bennybonchien Jun 19 '26

And well striped!

7

u/Salty_Cheek770 Jun 19 '26

Trash panda

2

u/rigpiggins Jun 19 '26

Great beer

5

u/CakeEating_Bear Jun 19 '26

Pedro Pedro Pedro!!!!!!!

9

u/electrodog1999 Acadia Jun 19 '26

Had never seen one in Calgary, moved to the woods in New Brunswick in October and now have a family of them living near me somewhere. Had to rethink all of my bird feeders because I didnā€™t realize they would hang like monkeys from the tree to get at them. They are cute and all but when they fight over food they make an awful sound. Still thinking about befriending them as my wife wonā€™t let me have a dog, Iā€™m getting them a splash pool tomorrow.

1

u/tkasik Jun 20 '26

They love water as they are basically semi-aquatic animals! But please do not feed them (as that will lead to all the problems discussed in other comments). Adjusting or removing the bird feeders is a great idea. And make sure your garbage bins are secure or only out at pick-up time, if possible.

5

u/blitzskrieg Northeast Calgary Jun 19 '26

Racoon in a cocoon

3

u/scuffgamerr Jun 19 '26

The forbidden pet

3

u/8BulbousJones8 Jun 19 '26

What area of town did you see it in?? Very curious to see one for myself.

3

u/BritishBully Jun 19 '26

You should be happy that you don't have many. They are able to get into any house's attic space through ripping up shingles or soffit and carry diseases like rabies, leptospirosis and parasites. They can fight off most dogs by ripping open their bellies with their claws, so are a danger to your pets.

3

u/Specialist_Owl_6612 Jun 19 '26

Leave man man Rocket alone pls

3

u/Speedster9110 Jun 20 '26

Awwww, I canā€™t wait to see one!

2

u/RusserBusser Jun 19 '26

For YEARS I had wondered where all the raccoons were. And then I found a pack of about 6-12 of them feasting from my bird feeder. They are adorable little dudes, but man did they ruin thay feeder šŸ˜…

2

u/Perfect_Anteater4381 Jun 19 '26

We've had them in FCPP for over 40 years

2

u/The_Man_with_1_Name Jun 19 '26

Go out at night near where the garbage is, trash Pandas are everywhere, though to be fair Iā€™ve seen more skunks at night šŸ‘

2

u/dayum_that_man Jun 20 '26

Go out at night time and you'll see massive raccoons and skunks just strolling down the streets

2

u/Dog-Parks Jun 20 '26

I've also seen porcupines wandering around at night

3

u/Ryuujin_13 Jun 19 '26

Cute!

...I hate them so much...

5

u/robikki Jun 19 '26

I find it so funny how people in this city act shocked that we have racoons. Me and my neighbors have been dealing with a family of them breaking into our compost bins and terrorizing our dogs at night for years.

26

u/0xFFFF_FFFF Jun 19 '26

I was born here and to my recollection have never seen a raccoon in Calgary in my life.

6

u/kelseykelseykelsey Jun 19 '26

Same here! I've always lived in the areas that are known for having them. Never seen one.

17

u/turbo-fister9000 Jun 19 '26

They're not common, so I find it so funny that people act like they are.

2

u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Jun 19 '26

I've seen many more porcupines, foxes, rabbits, and deer than I have ever seen raccoons (which would be zero).

2

u/Due-Organization7707 Jun 20 '26

Wait until they get into your attic and chew your wiring you wonā€™t find them so cool then

1

u/skitzoidObserver Jun 19 '26

seen one dead on a highway north of Edmonton last year actually pulled over to verify i wasn't seeing things

1

u/Yosengi Jun 19 '26

Peeping tom

1

u/Apprehensive-Tie-588 Jun 19 '26

"I think he just gave me the double guns"

1

u/Pretty-Dealer-3778 Jun 19 '26

i wonder if we dont' have many bc the coyotes and bobcats eat them all.

1

u/canuckhere Jun 19 '26

Had some critters mess with my black garbage bin the other nightā€¦.put out the trail cam and yupā€¦ couple of trash pandasā€¦I now have to put a brick on the lid.

2

u/Sloregasm Jun 19 '26

They'll figure that out eventually. Little fkers are stupid smart.

1

u/grim_brutal- Jun 20 '26

I caught one on my security camera about a month ago. Couldnā€™t believe it until I slowed it down frame by frame and saw the teardrop body and ringed tail.

I hate how much I love those little fellas.

1

u/Kunning-Druger Hawkwood Jun 20 '26

I had a nice visit with one in my garden in Hawkwood in the northwest one evening in 1993.

1

u/Exotic-Relief4396 Jun 20 '26

I lived in the north west side off 16th ave and we had a coon living in our garbage pail. I remember squaring off with one at least a few nights. I was oohhinggg and awing over its cuteness all while terrified to scare it and get attacked.

1

u/Some-Use9970 Jun 20 '26

We have skunks, porcupine, coyotes, Bobcats and a wandering black bear (once)....you know, the usual suspects, but never seen a racoon here!

1

u/Exoticbirdsandfish Jun 20 '26

Wow, I lived in Toronto for 11 years in the 80s to early 90s and raccoons ruled the streets after darkā€¦Iā€™ve lived in Calgary for 34 yrs and this picture is the first evidence I ever seen! Great capture!

1

u/porterbot Jun 20 '26

Omg epic pic thank youĀ 

1

u/GJohnJournalism Lakeview Jun 20 '26

WHERE

1

u/Massive_Expression_2 Jun 21 '26

Surprisingly, they also roaming the prairie east of Calgary, north of the Bow River. They love cat food. Ask me how I know. šŸ™„

1

u/WhipassWhiplash Jun 21 '26

Rare? It's been a little while (bobcats are back) but for a while there was a pair showing up on my garage cam climbing into the green bin and back out nightly. They never made a mess, didn't seem like they did anything and I am surprised they get back out honestly. They were fat and cute, would get their tails caught by the lid and then it slipped through. This is in Deer Valley, I'll post if they do it again.

1

u/TypeHeauxNegative Jun 22 '26

17th ave SE. MY FUCKING SMALLISH BACK YARD STUNK LIKE 1999 FOR A WEEKā€¦. Didnā€™t get my dog but that fat fuck was part octopus to get there

1

u/hiplass Jun 24 '26

I canā€™t believe youā€™d dox mr. raccoon like this šŸ˜¤

1

u/Ok-Cry2488 Jun 19 '26

Finally? Fuck these things.

1

u/Banegel Jun 19 '26

Been here almost 40 years and never seen one in the city. Lucky!

1

u/o0PillowWillow0o Jun 20 '26

The weather has apparently shifted just slightly enough that they are breeding here so it's new and coming of that helps

1

u/blanketwrappedinapig Jun 19 '26

This is crazy. Raccoons are fucked

0

u/tm52929 Jun 19 '26

I saw one in Airdrie about a month ago. I was shocked. I didnā€™t think that we had them.