Raccoons are often portrayed as sneaky, mischievous creatures that are often seen wandering around on the ground. They are also seen in backyards rummaging through garbage cans, climbing fences, and making a mess of things. It is common to see them running around with fruits, birdseed, or pet food that they have stolen from feeders.
They are very commonly seen on the ground that some people have wondered if they can climb trees. This article will explore the raccoon’s climbing abilities and whether they can actually climb trees or not.
Can Raccoon Climb Trees?
The raccoon may not seem like a very agile animal, and their movements on the ground might seem awkward. They have a hard time climbing things like rocks or even ladders and they can’t climb smooth vertical walls so you’d think that trees would be off-limits for them.
However, raccoons are often found in treetops. How do these animals get into such high places? Do they climb, jump, or do they do something else entirely?
Raccoon Climbing Ability
Although raccoons may look like they won’t be able to climb trees, the raccoon is actually an incredibly good climber. As it turns out, their front paws are very similar to human hands and they can grip onto trees with ease. They use their claws for gripping as well as for digging so having large front nails helps them climb.
Their paws are also incredibly dextrous and they can climb just about anything that they please. They’ve been seen climbing brick walls, fences, and even power poles.
Raccoons also have very strong hind legs and flexible ankles that allow them to reach out and grab onto branches or other things to help push their body forward, just like a human would do when climbing.
They also have long tails that they use to keep themselves balanced and stable while they are scurrying up trees.
So, can raccoons climb trees? They certainly seem to be able to! Their climbing abilities are impressive and they use the same techniques that humans would in order to get up into high places.
Most people wouldn’t expect such a small animal like this one could climb so well but it turns out that their skills might put even some experienced rock climbers to shame.
Is it Normal for Raccoons to Climb Trees?
Since raccoons are normally found on woodlands and forests, it makes sense for them to be able to climb trees. They use the treetops as a safe place where they can find shelter and eat their fill of tasty fruits, nuts, seeds, and leaves.
When raccoons are in urban areas such as backyards or even cities, one might wonder if climbing is normal behavior for wild raccoons. In the city, they might climb trees to find food or escape from humans, or they might scurry up your fence or power pole to find a safe place to sleep.
Raccoons and Trees
In the wild, trees are the raccoon’s habitat. They climb them to escape from predators or find food such as bird eggs and baby birds, insects like beetles and grubs, fruit like apples and berries, as well as frogs and fish that they can eat.
They also often build their homes in tree hollows by constructing a den out of sticks where they can rest, have babies, and store food. Raccoons are strong and intelligent animals that can adapt to almost any situation or environment they find themselves in.
They may not seem like good climbers because their movements don’t appear graceful but when you look closer at their physiology and physical abilities, it’s clear that they can climb trees like pros!
How Raccoons Get Into Trees
Climbing trees is an ability that raccoons have evolved to have over the years and it has helped them to adapt to various environments. When climbing, for them it is usually only a matter of gripping onto the bark with their claws, balancing themselves on a trunk or branch, and then scurrying up into the treetop.
However, raccoons are not well-suited for climbing trees when compared to other wild animals that can do it pretty much effortlessly.
Climbing Ability: Raccoon vs Other Animals
Raccoons are great climbers and they have very unique adaptations that help them to succeed in climbing as well as other difficult surfaces, but they aren’t the best at it overall when compared to other wild creatures. They use many of the same strategies including gripping with their paws and using their tails as stabilizers when climbing.
But as good as they are, compared to other critters, raccoons are much less agile. For example, squirrels can climb down headfirst and they have ankles that can twist or rotate 180 degrees so that they can grip onto a tree trunk or branch with their claws and push off sideways to help them go up the side of it.
Snakes also have impressively good climbing abilities despite not having any limbs at all! They can grip onto trees with their powerful tails and they use the shape of their bodies to move up through branches without ever touching them first with their front paws as raccoons do.
Do Raccoons Live in Trees?
While raccoons can climb trees, they do so because it helps them to find sustenance and escape from predators. They are not arboreal animals that actually live in treetops but instead these climbing skills help them temporarily get into a better position where they have access to more resources.
In fact, while raccoons sleep up in trees, they seem to prefer a hidden area on the ground to sleep. They usually den in hollows of trees or in dens that other wild animals have abandoned. When they do sleep in trees, it’s usually because their den is destroyed and they need a new one to live in!
Raccoons may be able to climb trees but when you look at the bigger picture of them living and surviving as wild animals, climbing isn’t what helps them most or defines who they are. Instead, it is a survival mechanism that helps them to eat and rest in a safer spot than they would otherwise be able to find!
Can Raccoons Climb Over Fences?
Raccoons climbing your trees can be a nuisance to gardeners and homeowners, but what about raccoons climbing fences? These animals can climb almost anything that isn’t completely smooth. They will even try to scale straight walls if they can grip onto something on the way up.
This is why it’s very important to make sure that your fence has no knobs or protrusions on which a raccoon can climb up, or else you will find yourself with a raccoon in your backyard that has no intention of leaving.
Can Raccoons Climb Walls?
A raccoon in Minnesota did exactly just that. This raccoon made headlines when it climbed a 25 story tall office building using only its grit and determination. It started at the ground and climbed all the way to the top!
If this raccoon can climb a 25 story office building, then your backyard fence is nothing compared to what they are capable of! This is a very rare occurrence, but it does happen from time to time. It’s an exceptional display of the incredible climbing abilities that raccoons have evolved to develop.
However, for the most part, these animals are not well-suited for climbing walls and this is why they will avoid it whenever possible. They tend to prefer a tree or some other wooden structure on which they can easily grip and climb.
How Do I Keep Raccoons From Climbing My Tree?
To prevent raccoons from climbing your trees, you need to make sure that there are no branches for them to hold onto. Cut all the branches off from underneath three feet so that they have nothing on which they can get a foothold or grip.
If this is not possible, then consider putting a porcupine wire mesh around the trunk of your tree to make it uncomfortable for them to climb up. Ensure that it is 9 feet up the tree to prevent it from getting snagged by passers-by.
A grated Naptha soap sprinkled on the tree base will also keep raccoons away, but you will need to reapply it after rain or every month. The strong odors will prevent raccoons from wanting to climb your tree!
How Do I Rid My Tree of Raccoons?
If you already have raccoons living in your tree, then there are a few basic things you can do to get them out, for one, you can remove all food sources like fruits and nuts that have fallen to the ground.
You can also try to harass the raccoon by making loud noises or spraying water on them to get them to leave. You can also wrap your tree with a wire mesh to prevent raccoons from scaling.
If none of these worked and you still have raccoons in your tree, then consider calling in a professional company that specializes in dealing with animals or nuisance raccoon control. They may be able to trap and remove the animal.
Raccoons Climbing Trees – Conclusion
The raccoon can climb trees with ease. The raccoon is an incredibly agile and dexterous creature that can climb just about anything it pleases to get around or find sustenance.
They have strong claws, flexible ankles, and hind legs that allow them to reach out for new branches or other surfaces on which to support their weight as they’re climbing up the tree trunk.
Raccoons are commonly seen on the ground probably because there’s so much for them to explore down here, but we shouldn’t think that they can’t climb into treetops, or even rooftops for that matter! So, to answer the question, YES, raccoons can indeed climb trees.
Originally published on https://aaacwildliferemoval.com/blog/raccoons/can-raccoons-climb-trees
