Introduction
Raccoons, those masked bandits of the night, have become an integral part of city life in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). These adaptable creatures have thrived in urban and suburban areas, making their presence known from Toronto to Brampton and beyond. But where do raccoons sleep in these bustling urban settings? Understanding the sleeping and denning habits of urban raccoons is crucial for homeowners and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
Urban Raccoon Dens in the GTA: Where Do Raccoons Live During the Day
In the wild, raccoons typically make tree dens or seek shelter in hollow logs and rock crevices. However, urban raccoons have adapted to city life, often preferring human-made structures for their dens. In the GTA, most raccoons are born and raised in these urban settings, with their primary sleeping spots including:
Attics: The most common birthplace for GTA raccoons, attics provide warmth, safety, and isolation.
Chimneys: These vertical spaces mimic hollow trees, a natural habitat for raccoons.
Under decks and in attic or crawl space: These areas offer protection and easy access to food sources.
Abandoned buildings and cars: In more industrial areas, raccoons may seek shelter in these structures.
Storm drains: Urban raccoons sometimes use these as temporary shelters or travel routes.
In rural settings, raccoons might use natural shelters like brush piles, which provide safety from predators and insulation against harsh weather.
While raccoons live in trees in more natural settings, suburban and urban areas offer too many convenient alternatives. Raccoons prefer sleeping in enclosed, elevated spaces that provide protection from predators and harsh weather conditions.
Preference for Water and Tree-Filled Areas
Raccoons strongly favour areas with abundant water resources and overgrown trees. These habitats offer them a strategic advantage, providing access to food, shelter, and protection from predators. In the wild, raccoons prefer ponds, streams, marshes, and lakes that can provide them with ample food and easy access to escape routes up the branches of nearby trees. Tree-filled areas offer raccoons adequate shelter, reducing exposure to predators such as coyotes, bobcats, and birds of prey. In urban environments, raccoons have adapted by taking refuge in attics or chimneys, which mimic the safety and seclusion of tree cavities.
Seasonal Denning Patterns in Urban Settings
Raccoons are opportunistic creatures, and their denning habits change with the seasons. During spring and summer, raccoons eat a variety of foods to store fat for winter. They are omnivores that consume fruits, nuts, insects, small mammals, and even human garbage. This diverse diet helps them adapt to different environments and ensures they have enough energy to survive colder months.
Raccoons do not hibernate but enter a state called torpor during winter.
Spring and Summer
During the breeding season, female raccoons seek out quiet, safe spaces to give birth and raise their kits. In the GTA, this often means attics and chimneys become maternal dens. A mother raccoon might have multiple dens, moving her kits if she feels threatened. Additionally, female raccoons may scavenge for bird eggs as a food source during the breeding season.
Fall and Winter: Do Raccoons Hibernate
As temperatures drop, raccoons need to store body fat to survive. They seek warmer, insulated spaces, often leading to increased den sharing among raccoons. This is when homeowners might spot raccoons more frequently as they search for food and suitable winter dens.
The Urban Raccoon Breeding Cycle
In the GTA, the raccoon mating season typically begins in late winter. After a gestation period of about 63 days, female raccoons give birth to their kits, usually in April or May. These nocturnal creatures prefer human structures as birthing dens due to their warmth and safety. A mother raccoon may stay with her kits in an attic or chimney for several weeks or even months.
If displaced by wildlife control efforts, raccoons may relocate to secondary den sites like decks or sheds. This adaptability makes them particularly challenging to manage in urban settings.
Specific Denning Behaviours in Human Structures
Attics
Raccoons typically seek out the quietest part of an attic to sleep, often above the master bedroom. They tend to sleep as far away from the entry point as possible. In semi-detached homes and townhomes, this can mean the entry hole is on one side of the roof, but the raccoon activity is mainly in the neighbouring attic leading to all adjoining units need to be involved in the raccoon removal process.
Chimneys
Raccoons may use chimney flues as den sites, particularly during the breeding season. This can pose risks to both the raccoons and homeowners, making professional removal necessary.
Under Decks, Sheds, and Crawl Spaces
These areas often become secondary options after people are displaced from attics. They provide shelter while still being close to urban food sources like garbage cans and pet food.
Understanding Urban Raccoon Activity Patterns
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, but urban raccoons have adapted to city life and human schedules. They’re most active at night, but it’s not uncommon to see them out during the day, especially in spring and summer when mothers are caring for their kits. Not all raccoons seen during the day are rabid raccoons; they may be searching for food or have been disturbed.
The intermittent noises homeowners hear could be due to:
Raccoons coming and going for food
Multiple raccoons with different schedules
Increased activity during breeding and kit-rearing seasons
It’s important to note that just because you see raccoons climbing on your roof, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re inside your attic. They might be sleeping outside behind the skylight, chimney, or on a flat section of the roof.
Raccoons Sleep Patterns
Raccoons have distinct sleeping patterns and can spend up to 16 hours resting in a day. Their preferred sleeping places include tree cavities, burrows, under decks or sheds, and attics. They are also known to sleep in abandoned buildings or hollow logs. When raccoons sleep, they do not fully fall into a deep slumber but rather a light nap called “torpor.” As nocturnal animals, raccoons mainly sleep during the day and come out at night. In the winter months, raccoons often create dens and burrows for hibernation purposes, although they do not hibernate in the traditional sense. Instead, they enter a state of reduced activity and metabolism to conserve energy.
The Importance of Thorough Inspection in GTA Homes
When dealing with potential raccoon dens, it's safer to assume presence rather than absence. Raccoons can be quiet during the day, and their activity might not always be audible. This is particularly important when considering repairs to potential entry points. Sealing a hole without ensuring it's vacant could tragically trap raccoons inside.
In semi-detached homes or townhouses, it's crucial to check neighbouring structures as well. Raccoons can enter through one side but den in another, making the issue a shared one among neighbours. It's best to hire a wildlife removal company for humane removal and prevention to get id off the raccoons fast and avoid reentry.
Attractants and Food Sources
Raccoons are attracted to various food sources, including garbage cans, pet food, bird feeders, and compost piles. They are also known to raid gardens, crops, and orchards, causing significant damage to property. As opportunistic omnivores, raccoons have a diverse diet that includes fruits, nuts, insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, fish, and carrion. They are also known to scavenge for human food scraps, making them a common sight in urban and suburban areas. This adaptability in their diet is one of the reasons raccoons thrive in such environments.
Garbage Cans and Other Attractants
Garbage cans are a significant attractant for raccoons, as they provide an easy source of food. Raccoons are skilled at opening garbage cans and can easily access the contents. Other attractants include pet food left outside, bird feeders, and compost piles. Raccoons are also drawn to areas with abundant water sources, such as ponds, streams, and lakes. To deter raccoons from visiting your property, it is essential to remove potential food sources and secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Additionally, bringing pet food indoors and using raccoon-proof bird feeders can help reduce the likelihood of raccoon visits.
Humane Raccoon Management in the GTA
Managing urban raccoons requires a balanced approach that considers both human needs and animal welfare. Here are some key points:
Prevention: Secure garbage cans, remove outdoor pet food, and seal potential entry points to your home.
Professional removal: If raccoons have denned in your home, contact trained professionals for humane removal. It's especially important not to separate mothers from their kits.
Exclusion: After removal, ensure all entry points are securely sealed to prevent future denning.
Habitat modification: Make your property less attractive to raccoons by removing food sources and potential shelters.
Remember, raccoons are wild animals that can carry diseases, including the rabies virus. Never attempt to handle raccoons yourself, and always maintain a safe distance.
Conclusion
Urban raccoons in the GTA have adapted remarkably well to city life, often preferring our attics, chimneys, and decks to their natural habitats. Understanding where raccoons sleep and why they choose these spots is key to managing these clever, adaptable creatures humanely and effectively.
By being aware of raccoon behavior, taking preventative measures, and responding appropriately when raccoons do take up residence, we can coexist more peacefully with our urban wildlife neighbors. Remember, if you're dealing with a raccoon issue, it's always best to consult with wildlife professionals who can ensure the safety of both you and the animals.
