Raccoons are highly adaptable mammals common in urban and suburban environments. These nocturnal animals often interact with human habitats, leading to curiosity about their physical abilities, particularly their climbing prowess. Understanding how raccoons navigate various structures helps people coexist with them more effectively.
Raccoon Climbing Adaptations
Raccoons possess several physical attributes enabling their remarkable climbing abilities. Their front paws are notably dexterous, functioning almost like human hands with five distinct, long fingers that lack webbing. These agile paws allow them to grasp and manipulate surfaces with precision. Each digit is equipped with sharp, non-retractable claws, essential for gripping rough surfaces. Raccoons also have flexible ankles and feet, allowing them to rotate their hind feet 180 degrees, aiding in descending trees and other vertical structures headfirst. Their strong hind legs provide power for propulsion upwards, and their solid body structure offers protection against falls.
Climbing Brick Walls
Raccoons are capable of scaling brick walls due to their specialized adaptations. They utilize the rough texture of bricks and mortar lines to find purchase with their sharp claws and dexterous paws. Imperfections and small crevices in brickwork provide ample footholds and handholds for them to ascend. This technique enables them to reach roofs, attics, or other elevated entry points on buildings. Raccoons have been observed climbing multi-story buildings, demonstrating their proficiency on this surface.
Other Climbing Surfaces
Beyond brick walls, raccoons can climb a diverse range of other surfaces. They are adept at scaling trees, using claws to grip bark and branches, and flexible ankles to navigate downwards. Fences, whether wood or chain-link, pose little challenge as their claws grip between boards or through gaps. Downspouts, even smooth ones, can be climbed by raccoons using their claws for traction. They can also scale siding, including wood and vinyl, and even poles. The only surfaces they cannot climb are perfectly smooth ones like glass or unweathered sheet metal.
Preventing Raccoon Climbing
To deter raccoons from climbing on your property, several preventative measures can be implemented. Trimming tree branches within six to eight feet of your roof eliminates a common bridge for raccoons to access your home. Securing downspouts can also limit access; options include applying automotive grease to a 24-inch section to make it slippery or installing physical barriers such as anti-raccoon baffles.
Sealing potential entry points into your home is important. This involves covering roof vents, chimneys, and other openings with sturdy metal mesh or hardware cloth. Installing smooth metal flashing or barriers around house corners or on ledges can prevent raccoons from gaining purchase.
Removing attractants, such as securing garbage bins with tight-fitting lids, cleaning up spilled pet food, and not leaving food outdoors, reduces the incentive for raccoons to explore your property. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also startle and deter raccoons from approaching structures.