Fig. 52. Distribution of the raccoon in Washington. A. Procyon lotor psora. B. Procyon lotor excelsus.
Distribution.—From the western slope of the Cascade Mountains westward. Marginal occurrences are Lake Keechelus (type locality) and Mount Rainier ([Taylor] and [Shaw], 1927: 45).
Remarks.—The range of variation in color and cranial characters of coastal raccoons is large. I am unable to find any character or average difference to separate the raccoons of western Washington from those of northern California.
Procyon lotor excelsus [Nelson] and [Goldman]
Procyon lotor excelsus [Nelson] and [Goldman], Jour. Mamm., 11:458, November 11, 1930.
Type.—Obtained on upper Owyhee River, near the mouth of the North Fork in southeastern Oregon by J. W. Fisk on April 15, 1920; type in United States National Museum.
Racial characters.—Similar to psora but larger; body paler and grayer; skull larger, heavier and more angular.
Distribution.—Southeastern Washington, the valleys of the Snake and Yakima rivers and the valley of the Columbia River north to northeastern Washington. Marginal records, from reports of trappers, include the Okanogan River, Okanogan County, Wenatchee, Chelan County, and Selah, Yakima County.
Remarks.—The assignment of the raccoons of northeastern Washington to excelsus is tentative for I have seen no specimens.