How to Tell a Male From a Female Raccoon

Many folks find raccoons cute and interesting; however, raccoons can be aggressive when bothered and can transmit deadly diseases to both you and your animals. Raccoons can carry rabies, a potentially deadly disease, as well as canine distemper, which can kill a dog. However, if you come across a baby raccoon or otherwise docile raccoon and are curious as to whether it is a male or female, it is possible to find out, as long as the proper safety measures are taken.

Things You'll Need

  • Protective gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the raccoon in your hands or place it on a table. Turn the raccoon so that its head is facing away from you.

    • 2

      Lift the raccoon's tail. Identify the anus.

    • 3

      Look underneath the anus. If you see a bump directly under the anus, the raccoon is a female, states AllExperts.com. However, if you see a bump under the navel, the raccoon is a male.

    • 4

      Take the raccoon to a wildlife center (or to a veterinarian who has experience with raccoons) to determine the sex of the raccoon, if you are unable to. The staff at these centers are familiar with the anatomy of raccoons and know how to handle wildlife.