Honoring Pepper the North American Raccoon

November 1, 2026: It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of NMWCs’ North American Raccoon ambassador Pepper. At nine years of age, he had lived well past the natural lifespan of a raccoon in the wild. Education and Hospital staff worked diligently to ensure Pepper had the highest quality of life for as long as possible as he increasingly dealt with health issues related to advanced age. However, once the intervention of various medications and alternative supportive care had run their course, it was time to say goodbye. Pepper spent his final days exploring additional enrichment, novel foods, and surrounded by his care team ensuring that he was comfortable and content. 

In his seven years as an ambassador, Pepper served a vital role in wildlife education, teaching thousands of visitors every year on ways to reduce human-wildlife conflict with raccoons. Whether he was munching on a sweet potato or participating in a training session, he was an ever present reminder of the role of wildlife education and rehabilitation. Pepper originally came to NMWC as a confiscation, after being kept two years by a member of the public in an illegal hoarding situation. It is illegal in the state of New Mexico to keep raccoons as pets. Unfortunately he could not return to the wild after spending a prolonged time in human care. After being turned over to NMWC, Pepper was embraced by the education team and received professional care, including training and enrichment three times a day. He became an essential part of programming and when he wasn’t training, was often found napping in his favorite hammock. Pepper will be deeply missed by the entire staff and the thousands of visitors who enjoyed meeting and learning from him. He leaves behind a lasting legacy for wildlife conservation and positive human-wildlife interaction across the state.