Thanks to all of the parks and green spaces in Toronto and across the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), there’s plenty of wildlife here! In addition to the ubiquitous squirrels and pigeons, you might catch a glimpse of a hawk, rabbit, skunk, fox, opossum, or even coyote. However, there is one animal that has really made itself at home and become Toronto’s most iconic animal - the raccoon.

Raccoons are colloquially referred to as “trash pandas” due to their appearance and their love of dumpster diving. While they are very cute, they can also be a menace to society! Raccoons like to dig through trash cans and make a big mess, and their clever brains and nimble hands allow them to get into all sorts of containers. They may also carry diseases such as rabies, so it’s best to keep your distance from them. And, as if that wasn’t enough, a raccoon was even blamed for a power outage that left thousands of people in the dark last year!

Despite the frustration that they cause to residents, we have learned to live with them, and they have become a symbol of the city. You can find all kinds of raccoon-themed souvenirs in Toronto, from socks and shirts to stickers and stuffed animals, and just last fall Toronto even got its own Raccoon Park (pictured above). A city councillor announced: "I know that not everyone is wild about the raccoons, but this is our way of signing a peace accord, saying we celebrate Toronto's icon, but most importantly, have a little fun with it.” Although the park is designed for kids, not raccoons, he added that “If any raccoon does come to this park, they will be safe. They do have safe harbour here at Raccoon Park.”

Vocabulary:

Something that is ubiquitous appears or can be found everywhere. Squirrels and pigeons are ubiquitous in Toronto.

Colloquial language is casual (informal), like slang. Raccoons are colloquially (informally) referred to as “trash pandas.”

Dumpster diving is the activity of searching through garbage cans or dumpsters to find food or valuable items. Raccoons enjoy dumpster diving for their meals!

Something which is a menace to society is likely to cause trouble or harm to people and to society. It is a bit of an exaggeration to say that raccoons are a menace to society, but they certainly do drive some people crazy!

Nimble is an adjective that means “agile” or “quick and light in movement or action.” Raccoons have nimble hands.

If someone is wild about something, they are very enthusiastic about it. Not everyone is wild about living with raccoons because they cause trouble.

A peace accord is a contract that aims to end conflict and bring about peace between two groups. The councillor joked that Raccoon Park represents a peace accord between humans and raccoons.