Have you ever wondered where raccoons go during the day? In fact, have you ever wondered whether raccoons come out during the day? In this article, not only will you find out how normal it is for raccoons to come out during the day, but you’ll also learn where they normally go, the reasons you might see one during the day, and what to do if you do see one!
So keep reading to find out everything you need to know!
Do Raccoons Come Out During The Day?
Yes, it’s normal to see a raccoon out during the day; however, it is less common than seeing them at night because they are primarily nocturnal. But if you do see a raccoon out during the day, it is perfectly normal!
Why Do Raccoons Go Out During The Day?
If you see raccoons during the day, then you may be wondering what’s causing them to be out. There are actually a few reasons why they might be roaming the streets during the daylight hours.
They’re Looking For A New Place To Stay
One reason they may be wandering the streets is that they’re looking for a new den. If their den is no longer safe from predators or it’s been destroyed, they’re likely to go searching during the day for a new place to rest.
They’re Looking For Food That’s More Available During The Day
They may also be looking for food that is more readily available during the day. For example, in urban areas, it would be easier for raccoons to scavenge for scraps when there are so many people around when compared to the evening.
Their Litter Might Need Food
If raccoons currently have kits, then they may not have foraged enough food during the night for them. So they’ve had to resort to going out during the daytime for food as well.
They Might Be Babies
Sometimes you may also see baby raccoons walking around during the day as well. As spring comes, a lot of baby raccoons will be learning to survive on their own, which means they may end up being out during the day.
Normal Vs. Abnormal Behavior
If you see a raccoon out during the day, then it’s a good idea to be aware of normal behavior vs. abnormal behavior. With that being said, here are signs to look for.
Normal Behavior
- Alert and responsive
- Foraging for food
- Not aggressive unless provoked
- Moving around at a leisurely but determined pace
Abnormal Behavior Includes:
- Looking disoriented and confused
- Appearing weak and sick
- Loss of balance and difficulty walking
- Becoming aggressive
- Erratic movement and walking
Where Do Raccoons Live During The Day?
During the day, raccoons tend to stay in their dens. These could be tree holes, burrows, attics, garages, or rock crevices. Basically anywhere there is warmth, shelter from the elements and predators, and a food and water source nearby.
What To Do If You See A Raccoon During The Day?
If you see a raccoon during the day, here are the things you should (and shouldn’t do).
Leave It Alone
The first thing you should do is just leave it alone. Even the cutest raccoon may turn aggressive if it feels cornered. As well as this, when raccoons become used to humans, it can become dangerous for you and them.
Don’t Feed Them
You may get the urge to feed a raccoon when you see one, but this should definitely be avoided as well. Once you feed them, they’ll likely come back for food again and again. And if you’ve done this near your home, then you may end up with an infestation.
Keep Your Distance
If the raccoon is close to you, try to back up and slowly walk away. Raccoons carry all sorts of diseases so staying away from them is your best call.
What To Do If You See A Raccoon On Your Property During The Day?
If you see a raccoon on your property during the day, then you should do the following to make sure you deter them from coming back.
Keep Your Trash Sealed
The first thing to do is make sure your trash is well-sealed. Raccoons enjoy searching through the trash for meals. Making sure they can’t get your trash will therefore make your home far less enticing to them.
Block Off Entry To Your Home
Additionally, you should also make sure that entrances to your property are blocked off too. It’s shocking all the different ways raccoons can enter your home. So you must consider less visible entrances, such as your chimney or cat flap, in addition to addressing any more obvious points of entry.
Remove Pet Food
Make sure that you take away pet food from your pets once they have finished eating. Unfortunately, leaving pet food out all day will also draw raccoons to your house.
Shine Bright Lights At The Raccoon
If you spot raccoons in your backyard or home, when you notice them, shine a bright light on them. This is going to scare them away instantly, and if you do it enough times, they’ll begin to feel like that area is unsafe.
Make Sure Trees And Hedges Are Trimmed
You should also make sure that trees and hedges around your house are trimmed as well. This is especially true when any of these things are touching your house. A lot of the time, trees can give raccoons access to your roof or other areas of the home they can enter.
Try Scare Tactics
Things that make noise can be used to scare raccoons away as well. Wind chimes could make a raccoon jump when the wind blows, or leaving a radio on can make it seem to the raccoon that there are people in the vicinity.
Motion Activation Systems
Motion-activated sprinklers and lights can also scare raccoons, so the next time they enter your property, they might be enough to scare them away!
Improve Your Fence
If you don’t have a fence, then you should first of all install one to make it harder for raccoons to enter your premises. However, if you already have a fence, make sure that it also goes deep underground as well.
Not only are raccoons good at climbing, but they’re also good at digging, so you need to make sure you’re cutting off both ways in.
Predator Urine
And lastly, predator urine can be an effective way to get rid of raccoons as well. Bobcats, cougars, and even domestic dogs are all predators to raccoons, so purchasing some predator urine is a great way to deter them!
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions people have about seeing a raccoon during the day.
Do Pregnant Raccoons Come Out During The Day?
It’s less likely that a pregnant raccoon would be out during the day. They tend to get pregnant in the winter when they’ll frequently go into short stints of torpor (brief hibernation). However, if they need food or water desperately or they’ve had to move dens, then it is entirely possible.
Do Baby Raccoons Come Out During The Day?
When baby raccoons are beginning to leave their dens, it’s not uncommon to see them wandering around during the day. They’re still learning how to live, but as they get older, this behavior becomes less frequent.
Are Raccoons More Aggressive During The Day?
Raccoons aren’t going to be more or less aggressive during the day. They’re only likely to be aggressive when they’re feeling threatened.
Is A Raccoon That’s Active During The Day Rabid?
There is no correlation between a raccoon being out during the day and a raccoon being rabid. However, even though the raccoons may not be rabid, they’re still best to be avoided.
Recap
As you can see, while it’s not common for raccoons to be out during the day, there are a number of reasons that you might see one in the day, and it’s actually perfectly normal behavior.
If you do see a raccoon during the day, however, the best thing to do is to ignore it and steer clear of it.
Lastly, if you liked this article, make sure you check out the rest of the website. Otherwise, have a great day!
