What Damage Can Raccoons Do To Trees?

Trees are a beautiful part of landscape design, and most people become quite attached to them. Unfortunately, as strong as trees are, they are not impenetrable and can become damaged. While most homeowners believe they only need to protect their trees from insects and species diseases, larger animals can also pose risks to trees, especially raccoons. Raccoons can cause so much damage that a homeowner might require raccoon removal services.   While raccoons are cute creatures and do not intentionally cause harm to your property or trees, they still do harm. However, understanding how the animal causes tree damage can help you prevent it. There are four primary causes of damage you should be aware of. 

1. Burrowing

Wildlife control in Oshawa explains that burrowing is one of the primary causes of tree damage that stems from raccoons. Raccoons love to burrow and den, but they can also be lazy. If your tree has holes or openings, a raccoon will probably view them as readymade burrows. All the animal needs to do is climb inside the hole and get comfy.  Unfortunately, as the animal tries to get comfy, it will likely scratch away some of the bark and wood in the tree. See, most tree holes are not quite large enough for raccoons, so they will need to enlarge the opening, causing significant damage to your tree and exposing its raw wood to the elements. 

2. Leaving Behind Garbage and Food

Raccoons are relatively clean animals, but their dens are anything but. Raccoons are foragers, and it is not uncommon for the animals to bring food and garbage back to their burrows. When the animal’s burrow is in your tree, your tree becomes a garbage bin. Unfortunately, raccoons do not consider the damage bringing their dinner and trash into the tree can do.  Garbage will attract insects and breed mould. Trees do not do well with either addition. Insects, depending on the kind, can burrow into the tree, and mould can weaken its structure. It is hard to treat and heal an infected tree, so it is best to avoid the problem altogether and evict the raccoon, but for that, you will need professional help. 

3. Over Foraging Fruit or Food Trees

The name trash panda is often associated with raccoons, which can lead to the assumption that raccoons live off of garbage, but that is not the case. Raccoons eat almost everything, from insects to small rodents and most things in between. However, they also like to forage for berries, nuts, and seeds.  Fruit-baring trees are especially vulnerable to over-foraging. A raccoon does not understand that it needs to limit how much fruit or food it removes from a tree. All the animal knows is that it found an excellent and predictable food source in the tree. Unfortunately, if raccoons eat too much from one tree, they can damage the branches and the integrity and health of the tree. 

4. Creating a Raccoon Latrines

Aside from burrowing and eating from trees, raccoons might find a tree to be a suitable place to relieve themselves. Raccoons tend to find specific locations to use the restroom, and when they find a spot they like, they use it again and again. Unfortunately, raccoon waste contains harmful contaminants and bacteria.  The bacteria and contaminants in raccoon waste are harmful to the tree and potentially put you and your family at risk. Do not attempt a DIY cleanup if you come across a raccoon latrine. Call a professional.  Is there a raccoon living in one of your trees? Have you noticed it foraging on your property? If so, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and schedule a property assessment. We can help humanely remove the animal from your property and take measures to prevent them from returning.