Raccoons have thick coats, nimble hands, and clever minds. They are resourceful and quickly adapt to different environments including in urban areas. They must prepare for seasonal changes, especially in winter when it is not easy to scavenge for food. While some animals prepare to hibernate for the winter, raccoons do not. If it gets cold enough they'll enter a state of torpor
An animal that hibernates has an internal trigger called the hibernation induction trigger activated by environmental changes. For example, fewer daylight hours and temperatures dropping. When winter arrives, animals enter hibernation, a sleeping period lasting for months. During this time, the animal does not eat or eliminate waste.
Raccoon Activity During the Winter
Torpor typically occurs when temperatures fall below 15 degrees. Other times raccoons are actively searching for food. Because they don’t store food, they must rely on whatever they can find daily. As omnivores, they have many more options than some wildlife. You may even see a raccoon out during the day searching for food before the temperatures drop too low.
Omnivores will eat just about anything. Raccoons eat bugs, nuts, fruits, vegetables, small rodents, human garbage, pet feed, fish, bird eggs, and more. Before winter, raccoons eat as much as possible to build an extra layer of fat on their bodies and tails. Raccoons are not afraid to enter your home through pet doors if they smell food.
Where do Raccoons Live in the Winter?
When not eating, raccoons must secure a den for the winter. Most often, raccoons choose hollow spaces in trees, brush piles, rock crevices, and fallen logs. Raccoons are lazy, and rather than building their den, they are likelier to steal shelter from another animal.
Raccoons are well-known for creating a warm den inside your home. They prefer attics, porches, sheds, crawlspaces, and chimneys. Raccoons are avid climbers and can sneak into your home through small spaces, like broken screens or windows.
Once they choose a den, raccoons will make it warmer by filling it in with leaves, twigs, bark, garbage, and anything else they can find.
Raccoon Activity During the Winter in Your House
Homeowners can still have a raccoon infestation during the winter. While raccoons might not hibernate, they still need protection from winter in Minnesota. You will notice raccoons getting into an attic for shelter. The most common entry point is a soffit. The most common complaint about a raccoon infestation in winter is hearing them walk across the ceiling at night.
Raccoons like to hide out in attics when it is cold. You're most likely to experience an infestation before and after cold snaps. Occasionally, you'll see them traveling across roofs in the winter.
Pro-tip: keep your bird feeders protected! Raccoons love to go after bird seed during the winter because other food sources are scarce.
Other Signs of Raccoon in the House during Winter
Don’t wait until winter to check for signs of raccoons. They occur all year, and the sooner you get rid of a raccoon, the better. Raccoons do things that not all animals do, like tipping over garbage cans and scattering trash. Other signs include damaged gutters, fencing, porches, and entry doors to crawlspaces, basements, and attics.
You may notice tracks or footprints around your home, missing chickens from your coop, missing crops from a garden, and holes in your lawn. Raccoons are not quiet animals. Audible signs include stomping and shuffling, like how humans walk. Raccoons make noises that are sometimes mistaken for other wildlife. For example, they screech like an owl, bark, growl like a dog, hiss like a cat, and chirp like a bird.
What to Do About a Raccoon in Your Home
It is never a good idea to try and remove a raccoon yourself. They are known carriers of diseases, including rabies. If they feel threatened, they are likely to attack. They carry bacteria that can lead to salmonella poisoning. Plus, they are filthy, greasy animals that can host a variety of ticks, fleas, and other insects.
Calling a professional wildlife control operator is the best solution. They have safe and humane traps, snare poles, and protective gear. They know the regulations, and if your county wants to test for diseases, they know where to take them. Wildlife experts also know how to relocate newborns with their mothers after removal.
Using a three-step inspection, removal, and repair process, you can have confidence that your raccoon problem is resolved. In addition, professionals implement exclusions to prevent future raccoon troubles. But you don’t have to wait until after a raccoon invasion to start prevention methods. Our technicians are happy to help you secure your home now.
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