At any given time you can see this animal wandering around the state of Iowa. It doesn't matter if you live out in the country off a dirt road, in the suburbs, or in one of Iowa's biggest cities. These animals normally weigh between 10-30 pounds, measure between 20-40 inches long, and will eat just about anything.

You can find millions of funny and adorable videos of these on the internet as they do have moments of being pretty cute and mischievous, which can make for a funny video to post on social media. You can catch them stealing food from an outside dog bowl, stealing food right off of your plate, swimming in your pools, messing with your pets, and surely stealing leftovers from your garbage can. These animals are sometimes referred to as "trash pandas."

One thing about raccoons is they are incredibly smart and adaptable. According to Wise Voter, raccoons can remember how to solve complex problems for months at a time. They've also quickly found ways to adapt in urban areas and some consider them to be a nuisance.

Pet Raccoons in Iowa

One of the biggest reasons for many states, including Iowa, not allowing you to own a raccoon is the number of diseases they can carry, including rabies. It is illegal to own, breed, and import raccoons in the state of Iowa.

Raccoons are primarily nocturnal creatures and you maybe have heard the old saying "if you see a raccoon during the day, leave it alone." I'm on the team of "leave raccoons alone no matter when you see them" but just because you see one during the day, it doesn't necessarily mean it is sick or has rabies.

According to Anderson Wild Life Control, if you see a raccoon out during the day, it could simply be looking for food. Nursing mothers need extra food to produce milk to feed their young. If you see a raccoon out during the day, you can observe it but do not approach it. If they appear sick, lethargic, is walking erratically, it likely has rabies and you should call your local animal control.

While some people may find raccoons to be funny and cute little animals, like the one in the photo above, it is important to remember you cannot legally own one as a pet in the state of Iowa, according to Wise Voter. I'm not sure why anyone would want to and there's no convincing me otherwise. Raccoons are kind of creepy in my opinion. They always seem to be up to no good and can be a hassle to deal with if they're frequently on your property. If you want something small and cute to own, get a cat or a dog. They'll give you plenty of opportunities to put a goofy video on Facebook or Instagram.