Do Raccoons Prefer to Live and Sleep in Trees?

Raccoons are a fairly common houseguest all across the US, often prompting the question – where do these little guys go, exactly? When they’re not munching on your garbage, what exactly are they doing with their time?

Understanding the habits of a wildlife pest is the first step to successfully removing them, so in this article, we’re taking a closer look at precisely what those habits might be.

So, where do racoons prefer to live and sleep?

This matters because obviously, they will need a point of shelter nearby their main food source (often your trash cans). So where is that, exactly?

The short answer to our title question here is yes, raccoons do prefer living and sleeping in trees. Why is that? Well, raccoons are by nature highly skilled at climbing, which makes it easy for them to retreat up high in a tree. This is a great place to set up their den because it keeps them safe from various predators. And since these predators aren’t usually as good at climbing as raccoons are, this guarantees a fair bit of safety for the raccoon and its family.

Alternatively, a raccoon will hide out in the holes inside a tree trunk, or even inside a hollow log on the ground.

What you need to keep in mind about raccoons is that they are highly opportunistic creatures. This means that they will pretty much sleep and live anywhere they find a comfortable space. Of course, they will prefer places with improved safety, like up in a tree, but that’s not to say they’ll reject a hollow log, if one is conveniently placed to their food source.

How often do raccoons nest in a tree?

The period of time a raccoon will live in a tree depends a great deal on external conditions. It’s interesting to note that while a raccoon will gladly take up residence in a tree on your property, they’re perfectly capable of vacating it the next day, and moving, say, to your attic.

As we mentioned, raccoons are opportunistic, which means they are constantly changing their living conditions, according to their needs. For instance, if they spot an opening for your attic, where they’re guaranteed more warmth and safety than in a tree, they’re likely to take that opportunity without much hesitation.

 If you’re unsure whether or not a raccoon is living on your property, reach out to a wildlife control company like Wildlife X Team New Hampshire.

It can be tricky spotting signs of a raccoon infestation, and even more so telling them apart from any other wild animal. After all, your exposed trash is appealing to a wide range of animals, not just raccoons.

It’s important to make sure just what animals are living on your property since that helps us figure out a plan for eliminating them. It’s generally not recommended to go after a wild animal on your own and attempt a DIY removal. This can result in injury or damage to your property, as well as improper (and inefficient) removal.

Raccoons can stay put, sometimes.

This usually happens during winter, when the cold outside makes it less desirable for a raccoon to switch its den location as often as it would in summer. In order for the raccoon to relocate its den during the cold months, it needs some sort of assurance that the next den is available, and will provide it and its family with warmth and safety.

Because of their opportunistic tendencies, raccoons can be unpredictable, and so are more difficult to deal with than other creatures. Nevertheless, a proper wildlife removal company can inspect your property thoroughly and accurately spot signs of an infestation ahead of time. If you’re worried about a raccoon living on your property, there are steps you can take on your own, also. Locking your trash in sealable, difficult to topple bins is a solid start, as this will make it harder for the raccoon to get the food it wants. Keeping your property clean and well-maintained, and fixing holes and cracks in the walls (potential entry points) is another. While they may not seem like much, these can really make the difference between a raccoon-infested and a raccoon-free property.