Are Raccoons Active in Winter?
This is a question we occasionally get and the answer is a definite “Yes”!
Raccoons do not hibernate. They are active all winter here in Northeast Ohio, but they limit their activities based on the weather.
Ryan took this picture during a raccoon inspection last week. These raccoons have been active this winter, as the homeowner can attest to. But, during the day, raccoons sleep in sheltered spots like hollows of trees or people’s homes. At night, if it is relatively mild, these raccoons will be on the move finding food. It is a combination of stored fat, insulating fur, good shelter, and group sleeping that gets them through the harsh winter weather.
This does not mean that these raccoons go out everyday. During snaps of bitterly cold weather like we had two weeks ago and are going to have again this week, the raccoons will stay protected and resting. They will stay “holed up” for many days at a time.
Raccoon Noises Often Alert Homeowners
Imagine you are sitting in your living room or just trying to get to sleep at night when you you hear some hissing, shrieking, and growling sounds. It can be really disconcerting, as homeowners have attested. What is going on when this happens?
What we believe is happening is that the social fabric of the raccoon world is being played out in close quarters: and, it is not a silent process!
The raccoons are having disagreements as they jockey for warmth and comfortable positioning in the pile. There are surely some hormonal issues at work as well, as the breeding season is quickly approaching. Or maybe they just get some sort of “cabin fever” if they are stuck inside for too many days because of the weather. Whatever the reasons, raccoons that have found denning spaces in the fireplace, soffits, attics, or walls of someone’s home are very noisy at times and a nuisance. If this describes your situation, you’ll probably want these uninvited guests out.
Call us for Help
If you’ve been alerted to some raccoon noises in the Stark, Summit, Portage County, Ohio area and would like some help with suspected raccoons, give us a call.
We can verify if a raccoon problem exists and take steps to remedy the problem.
For more information, please check out our main raccoon removal page and take a look at our other posts on raccoon removal.
