Do Raccoons Live in Trees? (And Why They Do)

Every animal has their habitat, and some live in trees most often. But have you ever noticed scratches from animal claws on trees in your backyard? These marks may be caused by Raccoons, which means they are around your environment.

The funny thing is you will hardly see Raccoons during the day, and this is because they are nocturnal animals. That is why you will only notice these marks during the day. But do raccoons live in trees? They might have your trees as their habitat where they stay at night.

Raccoons are good tree climbers, making dens on trees where they turn to their optimal location. Mother raccoons who are raising their babies will look for a high tree where they can be able to secure their babies from predators.

They usually make a big hole in the treetop where they hide and rest. These babies usually live in a tree with their mothers for a few months until they can search for food.

Since they are night animals staying or living in trees are their best option because they stay there during the day. At night they come out to search for food, and since they feel safe from predators at the treetop, they always stay on there.

Can Raccoons Climb Trees?

The raccoons do not look strong enough to climb a tree, and even how they walk on the ground seems weird. Though they have challenges climbing rocks, ladders, and smooth vertical walls that does not stop them from climbing trees.

If you can see raccoons at the tree top, they can conveniently find their way there. Are they good tree climbers? Do they jump, or how do they find themselves at the tree top?

Raccoons are good tree climbers. Their front paws resemble a human hand, which they use to grip trees seamlessly.

They use their claws to grip and also for digging; in a nutshell, having large front nails helps them climb easily. Their paws help them climb almost anything, like brick walls, power poles, and fences.

You will find raccoons normally in woodlands and forests, which has helped their adaptation to climbing trees. Raccoons use the treetops as a safe place against predators and a place for shelter.

They also use the place to store their foods like tasty fruits, seeds, leaves, and nuts. They use their climbing skills to help them get a better position to access more resources.

Why Do Raccoons Climb Trees At Night?

Raccoons are night animals, meaning they are nocturnal and very active at night. They can climb up trees at night if the tree’s bark is not protected.

If they can make a den in tree trucks, expect them to come out at night to enjoy nature and hunt for food and prey. Their preys are mostly rats and other small animals.

If there are bird nests on your trees, the raccoons can go there to destroy the nest by throwing them away. This will allow them to have their den on the tree.

They actively climb trees and play around when they stay up at night. Also, raccoons are known to climb trees and explore their territory, to ascertain they are in a place where food can be sourced.

They can do a lot of tasks with their fingers, and interestingly their fingers look like a human’s. The raccoons love to climb trees at night to locate a spot high up in the tree.

As they find this spot, they believe they can find more food efficiently. Intelligently, they also find a high spot on the tree to escape predators. They also ensure it is a high place that can make them survive dangerous animals and roam freely at night.

Do Raccoons Sleep In Trees?

Raccoons love to stay in places with water and plenty of tree covering. But, they have a great adaptive lifestyle, whereby they can survive in different urban and suburban areas.

Raccoons love to sleep in big holes found in trees and hollow parts of fallen trees or logs, and their sleep is done mostly during the day.

They love staying in their dens when not hunting or simply relaxing. The mother raccoons also love to stay in big tree holes, where they can raise their babies and shield them from predators.

Since raccoons love to stay in dens, they will not rest outside but stay in their dens resting. Interestingly, the young ones left in the tree will also spend most of their time sleeping instead of going outside.

Can a Raccoon Fall Out of a Tree?

Like cats, raccoons have an amazing ability to land on their feet without hurting themselves. It has been said that raccoons can survive falling out of trees as far as they don’t break their limbs.

They have also been said to walk as much as 40 meters with no adverse effects. Raccoons display common climbing abilities whenever they move forward or backward. Also, they are among the few animals that can come down from a tree head first. They are good at escaping predators even if no tree is in sight.

What to do If You Find a Raccoon in Your Backyard

Getting rid of raccoons by yourself can be challenging due to some factors, like getting attacked. Since you don’t know which raccoon has a disease, you should seek the service of professionals.

But on the other hand, you can get rid of raccoons by ensuring no filled trashcans are around. Also, ensure there are no holes that can form a pathway for them to your yard.

In addition, they can be enticed or invited by the smell of food, so ensure you keep away any food reserved for your pets.

You can make use of raccoon repellants as well. In other words, when you follow these simple hints, they will help you avoid raccoon invasion.

Also, do not try to send away raccoons from your backyard; they can become aggressive through that and attack you.

Raccoons climb trees as they are good, and they do that easily. They are amazing creatures that can climb just about anything, all in the name of finding sustenance.

They have strong claws, hind legs, and flexible ankles that help them climb and support their weight as they climb the tree trunk.

So, do raccoons live in trees? The answer is yes, and they do this to avoid predators. If you see raccoons on the ground, they have many things to explore there.