Raccoons are nocturnal animals. They come out at night looking for food for themselves and their babies. But they all seem to disappear during the day. So, where do raccoons go during the day? This article looks into it
Raccoons sleep in homes called dens or dreys during the day. Wild raccoons use trees, burrows made by other animals, rock crevices, and fallen logs as dens or dreys. Raccoons in urban areas use abandoned cars, trash cans, attics, drain pipes, and sewers as dens and dreys
Table of Contents
Where do raccoons go during the day?
Wild raccoons:
The reason why you don’t see raccoons out during the day is because they are nocturnal creatures, they sleep during the day and are most active during the night. Their sleeping quarters are called dreys or dens, a den or drey is any enclosed space that seems safe for them.
Wild raccoons can make dens or dreys in:
- Holes in trees
- Fallen logs
- Rock crevices
- Squirrel burrows
- Skunk burrows
Urban raccoons
These animals have had to live closer to humans in recent years but they usually keep away from humans as much as they can, during the day raccoons will find a secluded hiding spot to sleep in. Another reason why they keep away from humans is that they see us as predators.
Raccoons in urban areas can make dens or dreys in:
- Abandoned cars
- Trash cans
- Attics
- Drain pipes
- Sewers
- Abandoned vehicles
- Broom closets
- Utility rooms
- Storm drains
- Holes in walls
- In narrow spaces between buildings
- Under patio decks
It is very normal for both urban and wild raccoons to have multiple dens in a particular area, they will rotate between those dens almost daily.
These animals will only stay longer in a den during mating season and in the wintertime. They may also sleep for extended periods of time in a den over the wintertime and survive off of their fat stores.
Baby raccoons
Baby raccoons are dependent on their mothers and will go where she goes. Raccoon mothers generally prefer to call hollowed-out trees home.
These animals are great climbers and thus, are able to get up into trees very easily. Another reason why mother raccoons pick trees to raise their young in is that trees are usually good hiding spots that predators cant access.
Raccoon mothers will stay in the same tree for months, up until their young pups can fend for themselves. Baby raccoons in urban areas will live where their mothers live
What does it mean when raccoons are seen during the day?
These animals are nocturnal animals, however, this doesn’t mean that seeing these animals during the day is unheard of. There are several reasons why a raccoon may come out during the day, these reasons include:
Scavenging for food: A raccoon may come out to scavenge for food during the day. If a raccoon is still hungry after not finding enough food to eat at night, it will look for food during the day.
Being forced out of dens: Raccoons may be forced out of dens during the day if their dens belong to other animals.
Illness: Raccoons are susceptible to rabies, this sickness might explain their movement during the day.
What percentage of raccoons carry rabies?
Skunks and bats are the highest rabies-infected animals in North America. But the truth is, all mammals are susceptible to this disease. Raccoons, cats, and dogs are not excluded from being able to catch this disease, they can be carriers of rabies too.
A study revealed that raccoons account for 35% of all animal rabies cases reported in the US. They suffer the most from rabies in the US.
Rabies symptoms vary from case to case. Some raccoons will catch this disease and this may make the animal more aggressive than they normally are. Other raccoons will catch this disease and it may make the animal slow and lethargic.
If a raccoon is rabid, it can display a variety of symptoms. Thus, if you come in contact with a raccoon that you sense is infected, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Where do raccoons go during the night?
Raccoons are intelligent creatures and they usually remember where they usually find food. Thus, when they wake up at night, they will go out looking for food where they last found food.
These animals will go out searching for their food in small bushes, by the river, and in trees, if they’re living in the wild.
These animals will go out searching for their food in gardens, trash cans, dumpsters, or wherever they can get leftovers if they’re living in urban areas.
How dangerous is a raccoon?
In terms of attacks, a raccoon is a savage fighter. It has sharp claws and teeth that can be used as weapons in a fight. This makes them quite dangerous.
That being said, these animals won’t attack people, or other animals, without provocation. If you happen to encounter a raccoon, do not try to grab it or get too close to it, you’ll likely get scratched.
In terms of diseases, the transmission of rabies from raccoons to humans is very rare, but it is better to stay safe at all times. Touching a raccoon is not a safe thing to do as it can expose you to rabies.
The best thing you can do is to inform animal control if you think you have a raccoon infestation in your home, in addition, you need to protect yourself from bites or scratches at all times.
Conclusion
In conclusion, raccoons will go to their dens or their dreys during the day, raccoons living in the wild will create dens and dreys in hollows of trees, skunk or squirrel burrows, fallen rocks, or in rock crevices.
Raccoons living in urban areas will make dens or dreys in old unused vehicles, abandoned buildings, garages, attics, under patio decks, in holes in walls, or in narrow spaces between buildings.
If you’re interested in raccoons you may also be interested in these articles: when do raccoons come out, when do raccoons mate, how high can raccoons jump, what can raccoons not eat, where do raccoons sleep during the day, what do raccoons eat in winter, click the links to read more.