Winter Wildlife Woes: Why Detroit Raccoons Choose Your Attic as Their ColdWeather Haven When winter comes to Detroit, temperatures drop fast. The local wildlife is just as sensitive to it as we are in winter. As we hunker down inside, raccoons set out to find a warm and cozy spot to make it through the winter.
Unfortunately, your attic is often their first favorite option. So, if you've been hearing unexplained thumping, scratching or nighttime activity above your ceiling, chances are you're harboring an unexpected winter resident. In that case, you need to contact raccoon removal experts. Here's why raccoons pick Detroit homes to spend the winter, what lures them into your attic and what you can do to keep these wildlife criminals out of your homestead this upcoming winter.
Raccoons Are Seeking to Get Out of the Cold and Rain Everything freezing is not unusual as the temperature falls below freezing. Raccoons are not designed to withstand prolonged bouts of extreme cold, particularly mothers who are expecting to raise young. Attics provide: 1. Insulation that traps heat 2. Shelter from snow, wind and predators 3. A stable, quiet environment
To a raccoon, your attic is the equivalent of a luxury winter lodge.
Easy Entry Points Make Your Home an Open House And most raccoons don't break in randomly; they sniff scent, investigate weakened areas or take advantage of structural gaps. Common entry points include: 1. Gaps in rooflines 2. Broken soffits or fascia 3. Chimneys without caps
4. Loose shingles 5. Unsealed attic vents 6. Unsecured crawlspaces And once a raccoon finds a weak spot, it can rip open or pry apart openings big enough to squeeze through. They're also super persistent, particularly when they can feel that it's warm on the other side.
Raccoons are Attracted to Food Sources Near Your Home Raccoons are opportunistic feeders. If your yard is a consistent source of food, they'll stick around — and eventually seek out close shelter (like your attic). Common attractants include: 1. Unsecured trash cans 2. Pet food left outdoors 3. Bird feeders 4. Compost piles 5. Fallen fruit from trees 6. Overflowing dumpsters in nearby alleys Raccoons hang around wherever there is more food. If your home has a Raccoon infestation, reach out to the raccoon removal service provider.
Urban Raccoons Are Getting Smarter Raccoons in Detroit have proved well-suited to city life. They've learned over generations how to: Open trash can lids 1. Climb siding and drainpipes 2. Pry open poorly sealed structures 3. Roof hopping is the way highways are traveled They are intelligent and resourceful, capable intruders. They are more determined to keep themselves warm in the wintertime, she says.
Raccoon Mothers Are Pulled Into Attics as Safe Havens to Rear Their Young It is late winter and early spring that are raccoon birthing seasons, and pregnant mothers need quiet, temperature-stable spaces to rear their offspring. Attics are ideal because: Predators can't reach them 1. Temperatures stay above freezing 2. There's minimal noise and movement If a female raccoon has babies in your attic, removing her becomes more complicated simply because the babies cannot survive outside of the nest.
Attics Mimic Natural Dens Before the suburbs, it was hollow trees and caves and old burrows. With Detroit's expansion, so too would natural habitats contract. As per experts of wildlife control in Detroit today, attics are the ideal replacement for a den in nature as they provide: 1. Darkness 2. Minimal disturbance 3. Abundant nesting material (insulation, cardboard, goods stored) Once they make their way in, raccoons will build nests and establish themselves for the season.
Raccoons Are Real Nasty in Attics It's dangerous to let raccoons linger in your house. And they can do widespread — and expensive — damage in a matter of days. Common problems include: 1. Destroyed insulation 2. Chewed electrical wiring 3. Urine and feces contamination 4. Damaged ductwork 5. Torn roofing materials 6. Structural staining and odor Not only that, but raccoons can also host parasites and diseases that are risky to humans and pets.
Conclusion Raccoons are potent and capricious, at times aggressive , particularly when their offspring are threatened. Do-it-yourself removal is dangerous and typically not successful. Winter wildlife control Detroit, rid your property of raccoons in a humane, safe and legal way and prevent unwanted guests from returning.
FAQs How do I know if my attic has raccoons living in it? Common symptoms include: loud noises in the night, scratching-style noises, chewed vents or droppings and odors. A professional inspection will confirm the issue. Will raccoons return after removal? Yes — unless the entry hole is plugged up. But with professionals, you are not only getting rid of the raccoons but also having exclusion done, so they can't come back in. Is there a place where the winter raccoons come in greater frequency than Detroit? Absolutely. Wildlife activity around homes will be at its highest during cold weather as animals look for warmth, which is why winter is the busiest time for raccoon infestations in attics.
