A Mother Raccoon and Her Babies Emerging From a Tree in Central Park Have Everyone Talking
Raccoons can thrive just about anywhere, from quiet forests to bustling city neighborhoods. But one of the last places many people expect to find a thriving raccoon community is the middle of Manhattan.
Yet Central Park has become home to a sizable raccoon population that has adapted to life among joggers, cyclists, tourists, and crowded events.
For one visitor, finding some "Central Park Raccoons" was a must-do on their trip to the park. Not only was their mission a success, but they got some spectacularly rare footage of a mother raccoon and her babies.
@mickmicknyc This might be the most adorable thing in Central Park I promised Mika that we'd go to Central Park and try to find raccoons, and somehow we hit the jackpot Not only did we spot a mother raccoon peeking out of a tree, but two curious babies kept popping their heads out to see what was going on below Raccoons are mostly nocturnal, so seeing a mom and her babies like this felt extra special. One of those magical New York City moments we'll be talking about for a long time #CentralPark#NYC#NewYorkCity#Raccoons#WildlifeNYC
original sound - New York Mickey
In a TikTok shared by user @mickmicknyc, a small family of raccoons is seen crawling out of a tree in broad daylight. First, the mother raccoon emerges and perches herself above the tree hollow. Moments later, two adorable baby raccoons are peeking out while remaining safely tucked inside the den.
As the video zooms out, viewers can see the hustle and bustle of the New York City location in the background, as runners and bikers whizz by.
Later in the clip, Mama raccoon appears to herd her curious kits back into the tree cavity, then grabs one by the scruff of the neck and pulls it back out again, as if to say, "Get outside and play." One viewer found the scene all too relatable, joking, "Don't you know that mom is yelling at those kids to hurry up? They'll be late for school."
Viewers couldn't help but chime in with hilarious commentary about this NYC real estate. "That little tree apt is probably $5,000 a month because of its location ," joked one user. "A real NYC apartment ," quipped another. "Is it rent-controlled is the real question ," a third user bantered.
The Secret Behind Central Park's Thriving Raccoon Population
Many parts of North America are heavily populated with raccoons, and one of the busiest cities in the country is no exception. Thanks to their remarkable adaptability, these nocturnal mammals can survive on just about anything. That's one reason they can be found just about anywhere - from roaming backyards and neighborhood streets in the suburbs, climbing trees in a secluded forest, or foraging the dumpsters within a heavily populated city.
According to New York City's WildlifeNYC program, raccoons have adapted so well to urban environments because they're not particularly picky about where they set up camp. Tree cavities are among the places raccoons commonly use as dens, making the family spotted in the video a perfectly natural sight - even if it feels a little unexpected in the middle of Manhattan.
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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 7:15 PM.