Calgary's Elusive Raccoons Spotted More Frequently in Recent Years

According to recent reports, Calgary's raccoon population has been quietly expanding in recent years. While the city's furry residents have traditionally kept to the woods, wildlife experts have noticed a significant increase in raccoon sightings since 2023.

The data shows that of the 37 raccoon observations reported in Calgary on the citizen science website iNaturalist, more than half have been logged in the last two years. The majority of these sightings have occurred in Fish Creek Provincial Park and Weaselhead Flats Natural Environment Park, with a few additional reports in other natural areas around the city.

Wildlife biologist Sara Jordan-McLachlan attributes Calgary's attractive natural landscape, with its expansive green spaces and abundant resources, as a key factor drawing in the elusive creatures. She notes that while raccoon numbers in the city remain low compared to urban centers like Toronto, the animals are steadily establishing breeding populations and moving into new areas.

"They are coming into the already-built environment, and so they're trying to navigate how they can interact with humans in a safe way," Jordan-McLachlan said. "We're witnessing something really cool, where we get to again see a new animal coming into the urban landscape and sorting out their own relationship with us."