Raccoons are highly adaptable animals that have successfully transitioned from forest inhabitants to opportunistic urban dwellers. Their presence in residential areas often leads to nuisance behavior due to their remarkable ability to climb and access structures for food or shelter. Understanding their physical capabilities and home vulnerabilities is the first step in effective exclusion. This article explores the anatomy that makes them expert climbers and provides physical solutions to secure your property.
The Raccoon’s Climbing Arsenal
Yes, raccoons can climb brick walls with ease, as their ability to scale rough surfaces results from specialized physical adaptations. The rough texture of brick, stucco, or weathered wood siding provides numerous tiny purchase points that their claws exploit. Their front paws are highly dexterous, functioning similarly to human hands with long, sensitive digits and non-retractable, sharp claws.
These claws allow them to secure a firm grip on uneven surfaces, using the mortar joints and small imperfections in the brick face. Their hind feet are also flexible and can rotate nearly 180 degrees. This rotation enables them to descend a tree or a wall headfirst, maintaining control and grip on the downward journey, a skill most other climbing mammals lack. This arboreal heritage makes typical house structures relatively simple to scale.
Identifying Structural Vulnerabilities and Access Routes
Raccoons climb primarily to find a safe den site for nesting or a reliable food source. Attics, chimneys, and accessible eaves are frequent targets because they mimic the hollow trees these animals naturally inhabit. The pathways they use often involve structural elements of the building or nearby landscaping.
Tree limbs that overhang or come within five to six feet of the roofline serve as an easy bridge, bypassing the need to climb the wall itself. Vertical pipes like gutters and downspouts are frequently used as ladders, as the raccoon can hug the pipe and grip the outer edges or mounting brackets. Any exterior feature that provides a solid foothold, such as a trellis, thick vine growth, or stacked firewood near a wall, acts as a ramp for access.
Implementing Physical Barriers and Deterrents
The most effective strategy for preventing raccoon access is physical exclusion. This involves eliminating climbable pathways and sealing entry points.
Vegetation Management
Begin by trimming any tree branches to maintain a clear gap of at least five to six feet from the roof edge. This distance makes it difficult for a raccoon to leap onto the structure.
Securing Downspouts
To secure downspouts, install smooth metal or plastic sheeting around the base. This slick material should extend for a vertical distance of at least two feet, preventing the animal from gaining initial purchase with its claws. Alternatively, a section of the downspout can be coated with automotive grease, creating a non-toxic, slick surface that offers no grip.
Protecting Walls and Vents
For brick or concrete walls, the lower perimeter can be protected by installing a band of smooth galvanized sheet metal or durable plastic panels. Because raccoons cannot grip slick, untextured surfaces, placing this band around the foundation level will deter climbing. All potential entry points, including chimneys and roof vents, must be covered with heavy-gauge wire mesh or steel screening, ensuring the mesh is securely fastened.