Raccoons are highly adaptable mammals often found thriving in urban and suburban environments across North America. As nocturnal creatures, they become most active after sunset, making their complex system of communication audible to human residents. They rely heavily on diverse vocalizations to navigate social lives, defend territory, and communicate with their young. Understanding these sounds helps decipher their activity in your vicinity.
The Raccoon’s Diverse Vocalization Range
Raccoons possess an extensive acoustic repertoire, capable of producing over 200 distinct sounds. This range includes guttural, low-frequency noises for close-range communication and high-frequency sounds that travel over greater distances. Aggressive vocalizations include the sharp hiss, the low growl, and the coarse snarl. Softer, contented sounds include a rhythmic purr, similar to a house cat, or a rapid, high-pitched chittering or trill used for general communication. The most intense vocalizations are piercing screeches and screams, often mistaken for a human cry, which are reserved for physical conflict or high emotional intensity.
Interpreting the Meaning of Adult Raccoon Sounds
Warning and Conflict Sounds
The meaning of an adult raccoon’s sound is tied to the context and intensity of the vocalization. A low growl or sharp hiss is a warning signal, indicating the animal feels threatened, is defending food, or is protecting its young. This defensive posture attempts to intimidate a perceived threat and avoid physical conflict. Intense screaming or drawn-out yowling usually signifies a high-stakes scenario, such as a fierce territorial dispute or a confrontation during mating season.
Social and Distress Sounds
Conversely, the soft purr or churr expresses contentment, often heard when raccoons are grooming or establishing social bonds. The occasional bark is a distress call, made when an animal is injured, startled, or attempting to locate a lost group member.
Distinct Calls of Raccoon Kits
Young raccoons, known as kits, have vocalizations distinct from adults. The most common juvenile sound is a persistent, high-pitched chattering or chippering, often mistaken for a flock of birds. This sound acts as a continuous call to the mother, signaling their presence and well-being inside the den. When kits are hungry, cold, or separated, they produce a plaintive mewing or whining sound that quickly escalates to a distressed cry. Persistent high-pitched calls originating from an attic or chimney usually confirm the presence of a raccoon family.
What to Do When You Hear Raccoons Nearby
Safety and Prevention
If you identify the sounds of raccoons near or inside your home, maintain a respectful distance to avoid cornering the animal. Raccoons are wild and may become aggressive if trapped, especially mothers protecting kits. Never attempt to handle or confront a raccoon, as they are carriers of rabies and can transmit parasitic raccoon roundworm through their feces. The most effective strategy involves securing all potential food sources, such as sealing trash can lids with metal clamps or heavy objects.
Exclusion and Removal
To encourage a raccoon to leave a den site, employ multi-sensory deterrents, like placing a loud, constantly playing radio or shining bright lights into the area. Once you are certain the animals have vacated, immediately seal all entry points using heavy-gauge wire mesh or metal flashing to prevent their return. If the animals are inside the structure or if you suspect injury or illness, contact a licensed wildlife removal professional for safe exclusion.