Raccoons are scary. I see them all the time on walks around my neighborhood. They seem large and evil .

I adore raccoons. When I lived in West Seattle, a family of them would regularly come raid the giant plum tree in my yard. It was always a treat to go outside with a flashlight and see 4 or 5 pairs of eyes reflecting the light from different branches. I was happy to see that urban living had not killed all the wild spirit of the area. :)

As far as what they represent... what I've found is that most guides to animal meanings are often rather colored with the cultural prejudices of the one presenting the guide. Even if you spoke to an elder of a First Nations tribe, I suspect their answer would differ greatly from an answer given by an elder of a tribe elsewhere. I've often found it useful to read up on different meanings and see which one resonates with me. Sometimes none of them do. In that case I either search my feelings a little more deeply and see what *I* think, or I let it go and just enjoy it for what it seems on the surface -- a chance encounter with a beautiful creature.

To get you started, here is a quick Google search that returned some interesting results:www.google.com/search

Blessings,
SW ;)

It signifies that, come raccoon hitchin' season, there could be a godawful ruckus going on out on your patio in the middle of the night.