You walk into your garage one morning to grab your bike. Something feels different. A strange smell hangs in the air. You notice scattered items that weren’t there yesterday. Your first thought might be that someone broke in. But what if the intruder has four legs, a masked face, and tiny hands?

Raccoons are clever animals that love finding safe, warm places to call home. Your garage might be the perfect spot for a raccoon nesting in your garage. These smart creatures can squeeze through surprisingly small openings and turn your storage space into their personal hideout. 

The good news? You can spot the signs of raccoons in your garage early before the problem gets worse.

Could a raccoon be nesting in your garage? The answer is yes, especially if your garage offers what raccoons need most – shelter, food sources, and easy access. These nocturnal animals are always looking for cozy spots to raise their babies or wait out the cold months. Your garage checks all their boxes.

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in St. Paul, we specialize in helping homeowners deal with raccoon problems safely and effectively. 

In this blog, you’ll learn the telltale signs of raccoons in your garage, why they might choose your space, and how to prevent them from coming back. Let’s dive in and help you reclaim your garage!

Strange Sounds That Wake You Up

You know the sounds of your home. That’s why new noises stand out so much. When a raccoon moves into your garage, you’ll hear things that weren’t there before.

Listen for these sounds:

• Scratching or scraping noises, especially at night
• Thumping sounds like something heavy moving around
• Chattering or chirping noises (baby raccoons make these sounds)
• Rustling through boxes or bags

These sounds usually happen after dark when raccoons are most active. You might hear them around 2 or 3 in the morning. If you’ve been waking up to mysterious noises, a raccoon might be the cause.

The sounds get louder when mama raccoons have babies. Baby raccoons are noisy little creatures. They cry for food and make chirping sounds when they’re scared or cold. If you hear multiple animals moving around, you might have a whole raccoon family living in your garage.

Messy Evidence Left Behind

Raccoons aren’t neat houseguests. They leave a trail of evidence wherever they go. Your once-organized garage might look like a tornado hit it.

Look for these messy signs:

• Torn garbage bags with trash scattered around
• Pet food spilled and eaten
• Storage boxes knocked over or torn open
• Garden tools moved or knocked down
• Birdseed scattered across the floor

Raccoons have tiny hands that work almost like human fingers. They can open containers, unscrew lids, and tear through plastic bags. If your stored items keep getting disturbed, raccoons might be the culprits.

These animals also love shiny objects. You might find small items moved to different spots in your garage. Bottle caps, coins, or pieces of metal might disappear or show up in strange places.

Droppings and Urine Stains

This isn’t the most pleasant topic, but animal droppings tell a clear story. Droppings look different from other animal waste, and they often appear in the same spots.

Raccoon droppings are dark brown or black and about 2-3 inches long. They’re usually found in piles in corners or near where the animals sleep. You might also notice strong urine smells, especially in warm weather.

Never try to clean these droppings yourself. Raccoon waste can carry dangerous diseases. If you find droppings in your garage, call professionals right away. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in St. Paul, we safely remove and clean up after wildlife. We have the right equipment and training to handle contaminated areas.

The smell of urine gets stronger over time. If your garage has a strong, ammonia-like smell that won’t go away, raccoons might be using it as their bathroom.

Damage to Your Garage Structure

Raccoons are strong animals with sharp claws. They can cause real damage to your garage while making themselves comfortable.

Check for this type of damage:

• Torn screens on windows or vents
• Holes in walls or around the garage door
• Damaged insulation pulled out from walls
• Scratch marks on wooden surfaces
• Bent or broken garage door seals

Raccoons often make their nests in wall spaces or up in the rafters. They’ll tear out insulation to make soft beds for their babies. This damage can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to fix.

Look for scratch marks around 3-4 feet off the ground. Raccoons climb well and often scratch surfaces as they move around. Fresh scratch marks mean the raccoons are still active in your space.

Food Sources That Attract Them

Raccoons don’t just want shelter – they want food too. Your garage might have more food sources than you realize.

Pet food is like a raccoon magnet. If you store dog or cat food in your garage, raccoons will smell it from far away. Even sealed containers might not stop determined raccoons with their clever hands.

Other foods that attract these animals:

• Birdseed or bird food
• Leftover barbecue grease
• Compost bins
• Trash cans with food scraps
• Garden vegetables stored in the garage

Raccoons remember where they find food. Once they know your garage has snacks, they’ll keep coming back. They might even bring their friends and family members.

Footprints and Tracks

Raccoon footprints are easy to spot once you know what to look for. They have five fingers on each paw, making tracks that look almost like tiny human handprints.

Look for tracks in dusty areas of your garage floor. You might see them near doorways, around stored items, or leading to corners where raccoons like to hide.

Fresh tracks appear dark and clear. Older tracks might be faint or partially covered by dust. If you see new tracks appearing regularly, these animals are actively using your garage.

Grease Marks and Rub Marks

Raccoons follow the same paths over and over again. As they squeeze through openings and climb on surfaces, they leave behind grease marks from their fur.

These dark, oily marks appear around entry points like:

• Door frames
• Window sills
• Gaps in the garage door
• Holes in walls or screens

The marks look like dark smudges or streaks. Fresh marks appear darker and more noticeable. If you clean a mark and it comes back quickly, raccoons are still using that path.

Nesting Materials

Raccoons build nests for sleeping and raising babies. They gather soft materials from around your property and your garage.

Common nesting materials include:

• Torn paper or cardboard
• Fabric scraps or old clothing
• Insulation pulled from walls
• Leaves and twigs brought in from outside
• Shredded plastic bags

You might find these materials piled up in corners, behind stored items, or up in the rafters. Mother raccoons build extra-soft nests when they’re preparing to have babies.

If you find a nest with babies in it, don’t try to move it yourself. Baby raccoons need their mothers to survive. Call our wildlife professionals who know how to handle the situation safely.

Entry Points Around Your Garage

Raccoons are escape artists. They can fit through openings that seem way too small for their chunky bodies. Adult raccoons can squeeze through holes just 4 inches wide.

Common entry points include:

• Gaps around the garage door
• Broken or loose screens
• Holes in walls or roofing
• Open windows left unlatched
• Damaged weather stripping

Walk around your garage and look for potential entry points. Raccoons often make existing holes bigger by chewing or scratching. Small holes can quickly become raccoon-sized doorways.

What Happens Next?

Once you spot signs of raccoons in your garage, don’t wait to take action. These animals can cause serious damage and health risks. They also reproduce quickly – one pregnant female can turn into a family of six within a few months.

Our professional wildlife control experts know how to handle raccoon problems safely and effectively. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we use one-way doors that allow these animals to leave your garage but prevent them from getting back in. This humane approach solves the problem without harming the animals.

We also clean and repair damage left behind by raccoons. Our team has the right equipment to safely remove contaminated materials and restore your garage to its original condition.

Your Next Step to a Raccoon-Free Garage

Dealing with a raccoon nesting in your garage doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Recognizing the signs of raccoons in your garage early makes the solution much easier. The sooner you act, the less damage these clever animals can cause.

Preventing raccoons in your garage starts with professional help. Our team at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in St. Paul knows exactly how to solve raccoon problems quickly and safely. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners reclaim their garages from unwanted wildlife guests.

Don’t let raccoons turn your garage into their personal playground. Request an estimate today to learn more about our humane wildlife control services. We’ll inspect your property, identify all entry points, and create a custom plan to keep raccoons out for good.