The Wyoming Raccoon Project

Exploring cognitive mechanisms that enable raccoons, skunks, and other mesocarnivores to coexist alongside humans.

About the project

The University of Wyoming Raccoon Project (UWRP) is an ecology and ethology research group at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY. UWRP researchers study raccoon and skunk behavior and cognition to determine if these mesocarnivores' ability to live in human-modified landscapes is, in part, due to their cognitive abilities (e.g., problem-solving, learning, behavioral flexibility, etc.).

trappingpicatbrett's.jpg — We trap, mark, release, and track wild raccoons and skunks living in Laramie, WY.

Our team captures and marks wild raccoons and skunks. We collect important biological samples for diet, genetic, and disease testing before releasing them back in their natural environment for cognition experiments. We track the movements of raccoons by fitting them with High Frequency radio collars, as well as ear tags and PIT tags for both raccoons and skunks.

About the common raccoon

The common raccoon is a small, nocturnal carnivore in the family Procyonidae in the subgenus, Procyon, along with 7 other species of raccoon. They are found in Canada, most of the United States, Mexico and Central America. Unlike many other animals, raccoons have adapted well to human infrastructure and tend to thrive in urban environments.

Meet some of the raccoons in our study

Before releasing a raccoon, we name it. Female raccoons are named after herbs and spices. Male raccoons are named after parks, forests, and green spaces. Skunks are named after rock types, minerals, and gemstones.

We are always open to name suggestions, so please send your ideas to raccoon@uwyo.edu

Featured

Licorice

Capture Date:October 2017

Capture Location: Railroad tracks in West Laramie

Like many of the raccoons we've captured near the railroad tracks in west Laramie, Licorice was captured at an abandoned barn. She has a very dark, black coat that really sticks out. We hope to keep tabs on this young female as we continue to study in that area!

Ozark

Capture Date:September 2017

Capture Location:Railroad tracks in West Laramie

Ozark is a young juvenile who's less than a year old. He was captured at an abandoned barn near the railroad tracks in west Laramie. We look forward to studying Ozark for many years to come!

Bears Ears

Capture Date: August 2017

Capture Location: Railroad tracks in West Laramie

Bears Ears is a young male raccoon who was captured in an abandoned barn in west Laramie. He is named after a national monument in southern Utah. Our Bears Ears tends to show up on our PIT tag reader with other young raccoons, so we are eager to learn more about his association patterns!

Rosemary

Capture Date: July 2017

Capture Location: Business in west Laramie

Rosemary was captured at a local business in west Laramie, and this is the second time in two years that we've captured her. She is the BIGGEST raccoon we've ever captured; in 2016 she weighed 26 pounds, and in 2017 she weighed 35 pounds! Definitely a healthy female raccoon!

Molasses

Capture Date: July 2017

Capture Location: Residential home

Molasses was captured in the backyard of a Laramie resident. She is the oldest raccoon we have captured to date! We can age raccoons by the amount of wear on their teeth, and Molasses had very worn teeth. Not to worry- she also had swollen teats which indicates that she bred that summer, so she's still fit enough to produce offspring!

Turmeric

Capture Date: May 2016

Capture Location: Residential home

Turmeric was captured in the backyard of a Laramie resident. In the cage right next to her was a juvenile, possibly her offspring. We collected blood samples from both Turmeric and the juvenile, named Happy Jack, so we can learn more about the genetic relatedness between these raccoons. Turmeric was recaptured in August 2016 in the same backyard! We often track her location to a cluster of residential homes in the city.

Happy Jack

Capture Date: May 2016

Capture Location: Residential home

Happy Jack is a young juvenile who was captured alongside Tumeric, an adult female raccoon. We suspect Happy Jack is the offspring of Tumeric, but we need to run genetic tests to confirm our suspicion!

Appalachian

Capture Date: August 2016

Capture Location: near the Wyoming Territorial Prison

Appalachian was a healthy, juvenile male that likes to "hang out" in the trees. He immediately scurried up a tree after we released him!

Wormwood

Capture Date: August 2016

Capture Location: Residential home

Wormwood is a large, healthy raccoon that was captured in the back alley of a residential home. Our radio-telemetry work so far has indicated that she tends to stay within the same neighborhood that she was captured.

Cloud Peak

Capture Date: August 2016

Capture Location: Residential location

Cloud Peak is named after the tallest peak in Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains. He was captured in a residential back alley, and we often track him around the surrounding neighborhoods.