Raccoons are highly adaptable and intelligent mammals widespread across North America. They thrive in diverse environments, from forests to urban and suburban areas, utilizing resources found alongside human populations.
Raccoon Anatomy for Climbing
Raccoons possess physical characteristics that contribute to their climbing prowess. Their front paws are notably dexterous, resembling small human hands with five flexible toes for grasping and manipulating objects. These paws have sharp, non-retractable claws, providing excellent grip on rough surfaces. Strong hind legs offer propulsion, aiding in upward movement.
Their hind feet can rotate 180 degrees, enabling raccoons to descend trees and other vertical structures headfirst—a feat few other mammals of their size can achieve. An agile body and bushy tail contribute to their balance, allowing them to navigate narrow surfaces while climbing.
Assessing Their Vertical Capabilities
Raccoons demonstrate a notable capacity for vertical movement, primarily through climbing rather than jumping. When standing on their hind legs to reach, a raccoon can extend its body and front paws, achieving a vertical reach of around 2 to 3 feet. While not known for powerful vertical jumps, raccoons can jump 1 to 4 feet from the ground. Their climbing skills, however, allow them to overcome much greater heights.
These animals can scale a wide range of surfaces. Raccoons adeptly climb trees, using sharp claws to grip rough bark and branches. They navigate various fences, including wooden panels, chain-link, and smoother fences if footholds are present.
Downspouts and pipes are climbable surfaces, particularly if they have a rough texture or offer small spaces for grip. Walls of brick, stucco, or siding can be climbed if cracks, rough textures, or nearby vines and trellises provide necessary purchase. There is no strict limit to how high a raccoon can climb as long as suitable gripping surfaces are available, with documented instances of raccoons scaling structures dozens of feet high.
Preventing Unwanted Raccoon Access
Given their climbing and reaching abilities, preventing raccoon access to certain areas requires proactive measures. Securing food sources is a primary step; this involves using trash cans with tight-fitting, secure lids, possibly reinforced. Bringing pet food indoors, especially overnight, removes a significant attraction. Bird feeders should be secured with baffles or placed in locations inaccessible to raccoons.
Blocking potential entry points into structures like attics, crawl spaces, and sheds deters raccoons from seeking shelter. Inspect and seal any openings, and secure chimneys with caps and vents with mesh. To limit climbing aids, trim tree branches at least 10 feet away from roofs or fences.
Install smooth metal sheeting or specialized baffles around downspouts, poles, and fences to prevent them from getting a grip. Greasing downspouts can also make them too slippery to climb. While motion-activated lights or sprinklers may temporarily startle raccoons, physical barriers and removing attractants are more effective long-term solutions.