Raccoons are excellent climbers. They den in hollow trees and can easily scale trees and branches. In fact, raccoons can climb down headfirst!
Raccoons can scale almost any surface with the slightest texture. A steep wall or smooth pipe won’t stop a raccoon from climbing onto your roof. Raccoons can climb house siding, brick walls, downspouts, gutters, and fences.
Their long, dexterous fingers and sharp claws help them grip rough surfaces and hold onto branches and rocks. They also have flexible ankles and feet that let them rotate their hind feet for better grip. Their thick, bushy tails also help balance them while they climb.
Raccoons Climbing Trees
Can Raccoons Climb the Side of a House?
Yes, raccoons can climb up your house.
Raccoons’ impressive climbing skills allow them to gain access to your roof and attic. They can scale most home materials and wooden and chain links fences are easily scalable.
Raccoons can climb the walls of your house whether it’s vinyl siding, wood, or brick walls. They are much more likely to climb a tree to gain access to your roof.
Raccoons cannot climb unweathered sheet metal and glass. Wrapping the corner of your house with sheet metal can prevent raccoons from climbing up to your roof.
Three Signs Raccoons Have Climbed On My Roof
- Muddy Paw Prints and Scratch Marks
- Damaged Downspouts and Disturbed Shingles
- Noises on the Roof
Why Are Raccoons Such Good Climbers?
Raccoons possess a specialized physical build that gives them an advantage over other suburban wildlife. Their bodies are built for vertical movement, grip strength, and agility.
Dexterous Front Paws and Sharp, Non-Retractable Claws
A raccoon’s front paws look and function much like human hands. They have five long, flexible digits that can grasp, pull, and manipulate objects.
Their claws are curved, thick, and non-retractable. Unlike cat claws, raccoon claws do not retract into the paw. They stay exposed at all times, acting like built-in climbing spikes.
These claws dig directly into wood, bark, mortar, and vinyl. They provide continuous traction as the animal pulls its body weight upward.
Rotating Hind Feet for Head-First Descents
Raccoons share a rare physical trait with tree squirrels. Their hind feet can rotate a full 180 degrees.
This rotation allows their rear claws to point backward. When a raccoon climbs down a structure, it does not have to back down blindly. It can run head-first down a tree trunk or wall.
“The ability to reverse their rear foot orientation gives raccoons absolute stability during vertical descents,” says wildlife biologist Marcus Vance. “They maintain four points of contact even when moving straight down a structure.”
Strong Musculature and Balance
Raccoons have dense, powerful muscles in their shoulders and hindquarters. An adult raccoon can weigh between 10 and 30 pounds, yet its leg muscles can easily propel that mass straight up a wall.
They also use their thick tails to maintain equilibrium. The tail acts as a counterbalance when the animal moves along narrow ridges, roof peaks, and thin branches.
Call Trutech In to Get Raccoons Out
