Denver Zoo Welcomes Two Rescued Raccoons

The question behind Harmony Hill is simple: How can we humans better co-exist with wildlife—whether out in the wild or our own backyard? For the past three years, Harmony Hill has been home to our grizzly bear Tundra, and now we’re welcoming two new resident raccoons. You read that right. Denver Zoo recently took in two rescued raccoons, Pecan and Cashew. They now reside in their new home here at the Zoo and can be found in the “backyard” side of Harmony Hill.

Going Nuts for Pecan and Cashew

Sisters Pecan and Cashew were rescued in early 2021 by Sonflower Ranch and Rescue after a homeowner discovered a family of raccoons in their wall. Due to their leucism, a genetic abnormality that causes partial pigment loss, the two raccoons were unlikely to survive in the wild. The pair arrived in October 2021 and stayed at the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital while they were in quarantine until being cleared to move to their new habitat.

The Zoo’s animal care staff have already started working with the curious pair, who like to socialize with keepers, wade in the pool, and nap together in their hammock. Pecan is outgoing and confident and has darker fur than her sister. Cashew tends to be selective about the food she eats and likes to see if her keepers have treats before looking for food around her habitat.

Why Raccoons?

Among our Amur tigers and Sumatran orangutans, raccoons may seem like an odd addition to the Zoo, but Curator of Carnivores Rebecca McCloskey says these two furry friends perfectly represent Denver Zoo’s mission to inspire communities to save wildlife for future generations.

“Harmony Hill is a place where we share the story about living with wildlife,” says Rebecca. “Racoons are an excellent example of a species we can teach our guests [to] live alongside, so they were a natural fit for the space. Because of their light coloring, these two would not survive in the wild, so we’re giving them a safe place to call home. And our visitors will learn a lot from these two, like how raccoons contribute to the ecosystem and how we can live in harmony with wildlife.”

Under Construction

In February 2022, keepers kept busy setting up the east side of Harmony Hill so it would be suitable for our two new residents. The space, also known as the “backyard” side of Harmony Hill, will be exclusive to the raccoons, while grizzly bear Tundra will have full use of the “National Park” side. Tundra remained behind the scenes while crews made updates to the stream on her side of the habitat. As we were wrapping up these exciting new projects, the raccoons were preparing for their public debut.

Build Your Denver Zoo Legacy

Because of compassionate friends like you, the Zoo is able to inspire communities to save wildlife for future generations. You built a home for Pecan and Cashew, and for that, we thank you. To learn how you can ensure that our work continues for generations to come, please contact Josie Stewart at 720.337.1463 or jstewart@denverzoo.org today.

Denver Zoo is specially equipped to care for the 3,000 wild animals that call our zoo home. Please do not attempt to capture and home any of your wild neighbors.