The common raccoon is an incredibly adaptable mammal whose presence is routine in many urban and suburban environments. These creatures, originally forest dwellers, have successfully transferred their natural behaviors and physical capabilities to the constructed world, including scaling residential and commercial buildings. Raccoons can definitively climb brick walls with remarkable ease. This capability is a function of both their anatomy and their motivation to seek out food and shelter in human dwellings.
Raccoon Climbing Capabilities
Raccoons possess agility and surprising strength, making them capable climbers of nearly any rough vertical surface. Their adaptability means they are constantly seeking out new resources, often involving ascending walls to reach rooflines, attics, or balconies. Brick walls, with their textured surface and recessed mortar joints, provide the perfect amount of purchase for their specialized paws. Unlike smooth materials such as sheet metal or glass, brick offers numerous points of grip.
The primary reason raccoons climb is rooted in their survival instincts, specifically the search for a secure den site or a meal. Attics and soffits of homes mimic the hollow trees they would use in a natural habitat, providing safe, warm, and dry locations for resting or raising young. Gaining access to these elevated spaces requires them to scale vertical structures. The composition of a brick wall presents a relatively minor obstacle for these motivated creatures seeking refuge or reward.
Anatomy of the Ascent: Grip and Traction
The raccoon’s ability to scale a brick wall relies on unique biological features that function like specialized climbing equipment. Their front paws are highly dexterous, resembling human hands, and terminate in sharp, non-retractable claws. These claws act like miniature climbing spikes, anchoring into the small irregularities and crevices present on a brick surface. The five long, slender digits provide an excellent spread of contact points, enhancing their grip.
A significant adaptation is found in the structure of their hind feet, which feature highly flexible ankle joints. These ankles can rotate nearly 180 degrees, a feature shared by few other mammals. This rotation allows a raccoon descending head-first to point its rear claws downward and inward, maintaining a firm grip on the vertical plane.
This superior traction allows them to move both up and down a wall with confidence. When climbing, the raccoon’s claws utilize the recessed lines of mortar between the bricks as reliable purchase points, effectively turning the wall into a ladder.
Limiting Vertical Access
Preventing raccoons from using brick walls to access upper levels requires eliminating both motivation and opportunity. Reducing attractants in the yard is the first step, which involves securing garbage cans with locking lids and removing outdoor pet food. Raccoons are less likely to attempt a climb if there is no reward at the top.
Physical barriers can be placed at the base of the wall to create a smooth, unclimbable zone. Installing a slick material, such as a band of sheet metal or aluminum flashing, around the lower section of the wall prevents them from getting the initial grip necessary to start the ascent. Trimming tree branches and shrubs that overhang the roof or are within ten feet of the wall removes convenient jump-off points. Regularly inspecting the roofline and sealing any potential entry holes, especially around soffits and vents, further reduces the incentive to climb.