Coyote vs. Raccoon

Have you ever heard the tell-tale sound of your trash being knocked over at night and thought, “those damn raccoons!” The chances are high that you’re correct. But have you ever wondered if it may be a coyote? Do they even raid trashcans?

And if they do, what other similarities, or differences, do they have with raccoons?

Although coyotes and raccoons are classified under the “dog-like” suborder of animals, coyotes are closely related to dogs. In contrast, raccoons are part of the omnivorous, arboreal, and five-toed Procyonid family. Raccoons are, in fact, more closely related to mustelids (weasels and badgers).

Although their classification and genetics are definitely at odds, are there any similarities between coyotes and raccoons in appearance, behavior, distribution, or ecology? And what happens if they meet in the wild?

Physical Features, Relatedness And Taxonomical Differences Between Coyotes And Raccoons

Taxonomy Of Coyotes And Raccoons

To better understand what an animal is and the differences between different animals, we need to look at how researchers have classified them.

The best starting point is through taxonomy, how an organism is related to other organisms.

Coyote

Kingdom       –       Animalia

Phylum         –        Chordata

Class              –       Mammalia

Order             –       Carnivora

Suborder       –       Caniformia

Family           –       Canidae

Genus            –       Canis

Species          –        latrans

Raccoon

Kingdom      –           Animalia

Phylum         –           Chordata

Class             –            Mammalia

Order           –             Carnivora

Suborder      –            Caniformia

Family          –             Procyonidae

Genus           –             Procyon

Species         –              lotor… Read the rest of the story.