Raccoons Living in Garages

Raccoon Habitat Requirements

In the wild, raccoons make dens near water sources such as lakes, streams, rivers, ponds or marshes. They build these dens in natural hollows in trees, logs and rock formations or take over and modify abandoned animal dens. In urban and suburban environments, raccoons often create dens in sheltered structures such as garages. As nocturnal animals, raccoons are inactive during the day and easily hide in small spaces while sleeping. At night, raccoons search for food and materials for their dens. Female raccoons usually have one litter of three or four cubs annually. Adult raccoons keep their young hidden in secluded areas such as garages while rearing them.

As omnivorous scavengers, raccoons consume a broad spectrum of food, a good deal of which may be found in and around garages --- hence the attraction of these spaces as sites for dens. Among the many things commonly consumed by raccoons are insects, mice, eggs, fruits, nuts, vegetables, fish, frogs, mollusks, birds, snakes and crayfish. In urban or suburban areas, raccoons search for food in trash cans. If you keep trash in your garage, particularly trash that attracts insects or other small pest animals eaten by raccoons, you may be attracting raccoons by leaving a veritable all-you-can-eat buffet out for them.

Raccoons cause extensive damage to man-made structures. Female raccoons in search of den sites for litters of young may rip shingles from roofs or tear open vents to break into attics or create easy access points in garages. Once inside attics or garages, raccoons modify their habitat by shredding insulation and ripping up and rearranging wood and other habitat features to create the optimal dens. The animals also create latrine areas. If you have a garden near your garage, raccoons may rip up plants and eat them. If you keep animals such as sheep or goats, raccoons may kill the young and eat them. Raccoons also carry a number of diseases and parasites, including fleas, ticks, lice, roundworms, tapeworms, distemper, tuberculosis, mange and rabies.

The Integrated Pest Management Program of the University of California recommends managing the presence of raccoons through a variety of means, including habitat modification, trapping, repellents and exclusion. Habitat modification entails removing attractions by purchasing metal trash cans, tying trash cans to walls so raccoons can't knock them over and tightly sealing garbage so smells don't escape. Exclusion entails erecting electric fences or other deterrents such as tightly secured mesh coverings in areas raccoons might gain access to or try to access. Use caution when attempting to trap and release raccoons far from the home or when attempting to repel them with flashlights, water guns or noise. When trapped or threatened, raccoons become aggressive and may attack.