Where Do Raccoons Sleep in the Wild?
In the wild, raccoons do not sleep on the ground. They are relatively small animals and, while they are pretty adept at defending themselves when awake, they would be vulnerable to larger predators if they were to sleep out into the open. This is especially true of raccoon babies, also called kits, which are small and helpless during the first few months of their life and would be easy prey if they stayed out in the open. Raccoons make dens in places that provide some cover. For example, they may choose to sleep in a hollowed-out log that not only hides them from view but makes it more difficult for predators to catch them. Another way that raccoons evade predators is by making dens in the branches of trees. Raccoons are excellent climbers, and many of the animals that prey on them are not. This makes a tree a good place for a mother raccoon to protect her kits. The kits are completely dependent on their mother for the first few weeks of their lives. They are safe in the tree until they are old enough to climb down on their own and fend for themselves.Where Do Raccoons Sleep in Urban Settings?
In human-shared environments, raccoons often make nuisances of themselves by moving into buildings. However, they do not mean any harm. They are simply following their instincts and making dens in places that resemble those they would choose in the wild, den sites that are no longer readily available because of human encroachment. Because raccoons typically make dens in trees, they often end up in residential attics. Like trees, attics provide protection from predators by being high up off the ground, and they have the added advantage of keeping them and their babies warm.