The nocturnal mammal with a black facial mask that is famous for handling food in water is the raccoon, Procyon lotor. Its ringed tail and dark mask are among the animal’s best-known identifying features, while its dexterous front paws help it explore food by touch.
Raccoons are highly adaptable omnivores found in forests, wetlands, suburbs, and cities. Their diet includes invertebrates, plant material, fish, amphibians, eggs, nuts, and fruit. They are usually active at night, although a raccoon may appear in daylight when food is plentiful or when it is caring for young.
The famous “washing” behavior is commonly misunderstood. Wild raccoons often dabble with their paws while searching shorelines for aquatic food, and water increases the sensitivity of their paws. Captive raccoons may carry food to water and douse it, but this does not mean they are cleaning dirty food or compensating for a lack of saliva. The scientific name’s species epithet, lotor, is Latin for “washer.”