The common raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a highly successful urban adapter. These masked mammals possess intelligence and problem-solving skills that allow them to overcome the challenges of city life. This adaptability, combined with exceptional dexterity, explains the raccoon’s prevalence in neighborhoods and city centers far from their natural woodland habitats.
Common Urban Shelter Sites
Raccoons establish dens in urban areas by exploiting structures that mimic the hollow trees and ground burrows they use in the wild. Residential buildings offer warmth, security, and seclusion, making them highly desirable denning locations, especially for females raising young.
Attics and crawl spaces are primary targets, providing a dry, insulated area safe from disturbances and predators. Raccoons often access these spaces by tearing through loose roof shingles, prying open soffits, or exploiting damaged roof vents.
Chimneys are frequently utilized as vertical, sheltered den sites, serving as substitutes for tree hollows. Uncapped chimneys offer an easily accessible, protected column where raccoons can nest, often leading to noise and debris inside the home.
At ground level, the spaces beneath porches, decks, and sheds are also favored for their protected, dark cover. These locations provide quiet refuge and are often accessed through small foundation gaps or unsecured lattice work.
Raccoons also use less conventional spots for temporary shelter or travel corridors. Storm sewers and large drainage pipes offer secure, subterranean pathways. Woodpiles, abandoned vehicles, and dense brush piles near homes also serve as temporary dens.
Key Attractions Drawing Raccoons to Cities
The urban environment provides resources that allow raccoons to thrive at higher densities than their rural counterparts. The primary attraction is readily available food. Unsecured garbage bins and dumpsters serve as reliable buffets, containing discarded food scraps that appeal to their omnivorous diet.
Outdoor pet food left on porches or decks is a significant lure, offering a high-calorie, effortless meal. Raccoons also forage in gardens, consuming produce and fruit, and tearing up lawns to search for earthworms and insect grubs. They are also drawn to sources of water, including bird baths, ornamental garden ponds, and standing water from leaky spigots.
Cities offer an advantage over rural areas due to the relative lack of natural predators. While coyotes are present, dense human activity reduces the threat from large birds of prey or other predators. This reduced risk, combined with plentiful food and shelter, makes the city a low-risk, high-reward habitat.
Securing Property Against Raccoon Entry
Property owners can reduce the appeal of their homes by removing attractants and implementing physical exclusion techniques. Securing outdoor food sources is the most immediate step, involving the use of heavy-duty, locking lids or bungee cords to seal garbage cans. Pet food should always be stored indoors, and uneaten portions removed immediately.
Physical exclusion focuses on sealing potential entry points around the structure. Chimneys must be fitted with a sturdy, metal cap to prevent raccoons from climbing down into the flue. Vents, including roof and attic vents, should be covered with heavy-gauge galvanized steel mesh or hardware cloth to block access while still allowing airflow.
Gaps beneath decks and porches should be enclosed with durable mesh or wooden barriers that extend down to the ground. Trimming tree branches six to eight feet away from the roofline eliminates a common pathway to upper levels. By addressing these structural vulnerabilities and eliminating easy meals, property owners can safely deter raccoons from establishing residence.