As temperatures start to drop in Charlotte, raccoons begin looking for reliable sources of food, water, and shelter to help them get through the colder months. Unfortunately, your home may look like the perfect place to settle in for the season!
While raccoons are active throughout the year, fall can bring increased wildlife activity around residential properties as these curious critters prepare for winter. From overflowing trash cans to cozy attic spaces, several things can make your property especially appealing.
Here are five things that attract raccoons to homes before winter and what you can do to make your property less inviting.
1. Easy Access to Food
Raccoons are opportunistic eaters, meaning they'll happily take advantage of an easy meal. As natural food sources become less abundant in colder weather, residential properties can become particularly attractive.
Some common food sources that draw raccoons include:
Unsecured garbage cans and overflowing trash bins
Pet food left outside overnight
Bird feeders and spilled birdseed
Fallen fruit from trees
Outdoor compost piles
Leftover food from outdoor gatherings
What you can do: Keep garbage cans tightly secured, bring pet food indoors, clean up fallen fruit, and avoid leaving food scraps in accessible compost bins. If you enjoy feeding birds, consider temporarily removing feeders if raccoons become frequent visitors.
2. Warm, Protected Shelter
Food isn't the only thing raccoons are looking for before winter. They also need safe, sheltered places to rest and escape harsh weather.
Your attic, crawlspace, chimney, or even the space beneath a deck can provide the protection they're looking for. These areas are often quiet, dark, and relatively undisturbed, making them appealing places for raccoons to seek shelter.
What you can do: Inspect your home for damaged soffits, loose attic vents, gaps around utility lines, and openings near your roofline. Check crawlspace vents and areas beneath decks, too. Addressing these vulnerabilities can help prevent unwanted wildlife from finding its way inside.
3. Small Entry Points Around Your Home
You might be surprised by how easily raccoons can access certain parts of your home. They're excellent climbers and surprisingly strong, allowing them to take advantage of openings that homeowners might overlook.
Loose roof shingles, damaged soffits, broken vents, and uncapped chimneys can all provide opportunities for raccoons to enter.
Once inside, raccoons can damage insulation, chew materials, contaminate attic spaces, and create quite a mess.
What you can do: Make a habit of inspecting your roofline, attic vents, chimney, and exterior walls. Repair damaged areas and secure potential entry points before wildlife has a chance to move in. If you suspect an animal is already inside, have the space professionally inspected before sealing any openings.
4. Quiet, Undisturbed Areas
Raccoons prefer places where they can rest without being disturbed. Storage sheds, garages, crawlspaces, and spaces beneath porches or decks can provide the privacy they're looking for.
Cluttered outdoor spaces can also create convenient hiding spots, especially when they're close to food sources.
What you can do: Keep sheds and garages secured, reduce clutter around your property, and avoid storing food or garbage in accessible outdoor areas. Trim tree branches that provide easy access to your roof, too.
5. Water Sources
Even when temperatures cool down, raccoons still need access to water. Birdbaths, pet water bowls, leaky outdoor faucets, and standing water can all attract wildlife to your property.
What you can do: Bring pet water bowls inside overnight, repair dripping faucets, and eliminate unnecessary standing water. Keeping outdoor water sources limited can make your yard less appealing to unwanted visitors.
What If You Already Have a Raccoon on Your Property?
If you've noticed raccoons visiting your yard, heard scratching or thumping sounds in your attic, or discovered signs of animal activity around your crawlspace, don't ignore them.
Raccoons can cause significant property damage, and attempting to trap or remove them yourself can be dangerous. It's also important to avoid sealing entry points while an animal may still be inside.
Queen Bee Pest and Wildlife provides professional wildlife removal and exclusion services throughout Charlotte, NC, and the surrounding area. Our team identifies how wildlife is entering your property, removes animals using humane methods, and addresses vulnerable areas to help prevent future intrusions.
Don't let raccoons make themselves at home this winter! If you suspect unwanted wildlife has moved onto your property, contact Queen Bee Pest and Wildlife to schedule an inspection. We'll help get those uninvited guests buzzing off!