Where do raccoons live? In the wild, raccoons make dens in trees, under rocks, or in abandoned burrows, but urbanized raccoons may make dens in human homes. While it is more common to find raccoons in attics, they can and do make homes in basements as well. This raises the question of how to get rid of raccoons without harming them and without getting scratched or bitten.

When and Why Do Raccoons Live in Basements?

The ground does not absorb heat from the sun as effectively as the air. Because a basement is partially or totally subterranean, it is usually at least a few degrees cooler than the upper levels of the home. If a raccoon gets into your house during summer, it is probably looking for a way to escape the heat. Your attic is probably too hot for a raccoon, but your basement is probably cool and comfortable.

Raccoons are intelligent creatures that show problem-solving capabilities. However, they are also opportunistic and don’t waste time and energy trying to solve a problem when an alternative solution is available. If you find raccoons in your basement and it is not summer, it may be that the basement was the only way that the raccoon could get inside your house. Even in winter, a basement is likely to be warmer than the air outside. The basement may not be as comfortable for the raccoon as the attic would be at this time of year, but it may be enough to persuade it to stay.

How Do You Know If There Are Raccoons in Your Basement?

Raccoons are adept at avoiding potential threats, and dark alcoves in your basement may provide plenty of places for them to hide. If you don’t go down into your basement very often, raccoons may avoid detection for some time. This is especially true if you only go down in your basement during the day because raccoons are nocturnal. They spend the day sleeping in their dens, and their gray fur may make them hard to see in the dark. Nevertheless, even if you do not see raccoons, they may give signs of their presence.

Unusual Nighttime Noises

Raccoons wake up at nightfall ready to go outside and forage for food. You may hear unusual sounds from your basement such as thumping, scurrying, or shuffling. Because the noises are likely to happen at night, the rest of the house is usually quiet, making them easier to hear.

Damage to Home Structures

When a raccoon gets into a home, its primary objective is to build a den. It may chew on electrical wires that are in its way. An HVAC duct looks like a cozy den site from a raccoon’s perspective, and with its dexterous paws and sharp teeth, it may be able to rip a hole to gain access. Once a raccoon has found a den site, it wants to line it with something soft and warm. To that end, it may rip up insulation to use as nesting material.

Raccoon Feces

Raccoons don’t defecate indiscriminately. They establish a “latrine” site where they do their business, so if you find unexplained animal feces grouped together, a raccoon is likely to be the culprit. You may find a raccoon latrine in your basement or somewhere around your house.

Raccoon feces are about 2 to 3 inches in length, cylindrical in shape, and either rounded or blunted on the ends. Depending on the raccoon’s recent diet, they are usually dark-coloured, with a brittle exterior resembling tree bark. They can resemble dog or cat droppings, but raccoon droppings contain pieces of undigested food.

Why Should You Call Skedaddle for Raccoon Removal Pickering?

Raccoons can spread diseases through their feces or by biting and scratching. Our technicians in Pickering are trained to remove the animals safely and then clean up their feces. Find out more about what the process of raccoon removal near me entails.