These furry masked bandits probably hang out in your neighborhood—they’re amazing survivors and can thrive in all sorts of habitats.

There’s no need to fear them. Their boldness and scavenging can sometimes annoy people, but there are smart, kind ways to live peacefully with raccoons nearby.

Raccoon babies huddled together in their tree home
stanley45
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iStock.com
Raccoons are still killed for their fur, but more often, neighborhood raccoons are hurt or killed just because people see them as a nuisance.

 It doesn’t have to be this way. These beautiful animals can be fun to watch, but keep them at a distance. The best way to protect your family and home—and the raccoons too—is to make sure you’re not accidentally tempting them with unsecured trash or other invitations.

raccoon hiding under porch roof
Kiyoshi Tanno
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iStock.com
Did you know?

Raccoons like to wash their food before they eat it, with paws that look a lot like human hands.

A male mink at a fur farm

By taking a stand against the fur industry in refusing to purchase its products, you’ll encourage designers to stop using fur and other animal skins, retailers to stop selling them and style writers to stop touting cruelty as fashionable.

Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals