racc track field guide

Find the wild side of Central Park.

Explore recent raccoon areas, get walking directions, and share what you spot—from a respectful distance.

Give them their space: If a raccoon changes direction, freezes, or watches you closely, you’re too near. Step back. Never feed, flash, or follow.

Central Park raccoon observation map showing The Loch, The Pool, The Ramble, and Hallett Nature Sanctuary

Choose an observation area

Directions use the real location of each named park area.

Often · 8:20–11:00 PM

The Ramble

Mid-Park, 73rd–79th

A maze of woodland paths. Stay on lit routes and keep voices low.

Walking directions

One-hour photo challenge

Raccoon Party

Start whenever you like. Photograph as many raccoon sightings as you can in one hour, keep your distance, and climb the live leaderboard.

Choose your trail name

No account needed. Your name stays attached to this browser.

Play kindly: stay at least 50 feet away, never feed or follow wildlife, and remain on open paths. Each photo should show a sighting from your current one-hour round.

Live leaderboard

Refreshes live

The leaderboard is wide open

Start the first Raccoon Party.

Meet the neighbors

Raccoons of the park

Community nicknames and field notes—not a promise of where an animal will be. Wild residents roam.

The Ramble · 73rd–79th St

Bandit

racc track 01

Broad mask · round build

Photographed emerging from dense woodland beside a mature tree in The Ramble on May 2, 2020.

The Ramble · 73rd–79th St

Christopher

racc track 02

Warm brown coat · full tail · Gemini

A classic Gemini: curious, quick-witted and always changing direction. Christopher is the social scout of The Ramble—bold enough to investigate a new sound, clever enough to vanish before anyone gets close, and seemingly in two places at once.

The Ramble · 73rd–79th St

Елена

racc track 03

Narrow silver mask · upright stance · Aries

An unmistakable Aries: brave, energetic and fiercely independent. Елена is often the first to step onto a woodland path in The Ramble, surveying it with confident focus before leading the retreat back into the trees.

From the field

Community sightings

These archived photos were taken in The Ramble. Because their exact GPS was not retained, the map pin marks the general woodland area—not a den or exact animal location.

The Ramble · woodland paths, 73rd–79th St

May 2, 2020 · 8:23 PM

Approximate area: woodland sighting near a mature tree.