Raccoons In Your Attic: What To Do When You Hear Them?

Are there raccoons in your attic? Raccoons may appear to be cheeky, cute little creatures, but they are capable of causing significant damage to your home.

Raccoons are the largest, most intelligent, and dexterous of the urban pests we typically meet, so their presence in your attic, shed, or garage is less than inconspicuous. If you’re wondering if you have a raccoon in your attic, there are a few telltale indicators that one has made its way in, and if you recognize any of them, it’s time to call for trapping and removal right once.

It is illegal and considered cruelty to leave a raccoon in a trap for more than 24 hours. We don’t want the raccoon to starve to death, and keeping a mother raccoon away from her young is equally cruel.

Raccoon troubles are undoubtedly unpleasant and removing a raccoon, and its young can be pricey. You may ask for a quotation from your local raccoon control company, so check with them.

What Sounds Does A Raccoon Make?

Raccoons create around 200 sounds, according to research—each one indicating a different role or activity. They make rasping screams, a harsh snarl or growl, loud purr, a whistle, and low grunts, among other vocal noises. 

Raccoons have ten times the number of nerve endings as humans. Many individuals consider them to be their favorite animals because of all of these characteristics or traits. Raccoons’ diverse vocal repertoire, which includes growls, snarls, whimpers, purrs, screams, and whinnies, is one of their most appealing characteristics.

When conversing with other raccoons, looking for food or shelter, or guarding their offspring, raccoons produce a distinct sound. When a raccoon talks with other raccoons, it whistles like an owl, but they growl when they perceive danger or threat. The goal is to enlist the assistance and defense of other raccoons. Similarly, a low grunt alerts residents to their presence, and a scream is a sound raccoons make when they are stressed.

Raccoons make a range of noises depending on what they’re doing, including the following:

• To communicate with other raccoons. When it comes to the linguistic capacities of animals other than humans, it’s generally agreed that most mammals can communicate in four primary ways. Most animals express themselves in one of four ways: visually, auditorily, chemically, or by touch. In terms of communication depth, it should be apparent that we are discussing a practical exchange of basic emotions and cautions to either entice a companion animal or ward off potential danger ahead.
• Female raccoons are trying to calm their young ones. Although not all of the sounds made by wild animals are easily comprehended, some do stand out since researchers have observed them regularly. The chittering, twittering, or chattering mode of communication is mainly employed between a mother raccoon and her young. Mothers should try to quiet down their children by creating a slight chittering, twittering, or purring noise. The kits answer with a gentle churr (a lively or whirring sound) to express their contentment with their surroundings.
• Female raccoons recognize their young. Experiments on the behavior and vocal abilities of female raccoons and their kits have revealed, for example, that the kits respond to their mother’s chittering sounds faster and more frequently than raccoons respond to unfamiliar fellow raccoons. This more immediate reaction time suggests that they are familiar with the sound the young makes and are aware that it is their own.
• To fend off predators when in danger. When confronted with danger, raccoons are said to scream. It is especially true when other raccoons, usually males, approach a female raccoon at her den and pose a threat. With the kittens safely inside the warmth of their den, an angry scream, cry, hiss, or purr signals a protective sound. Raccoons can become more vociferous in a fraction of a second as a threat approaches or lingers for a more extended amount of time. Although it could indicate stress, it is more about attentiveness and serves as a warning signal in the future – especially when younglings are present and need to be protected.
• When it comes to looking for and eating food. Growls and barks are two more different sounds made by raccoons. When it comes to eating patterns, raccoons sound like dogs or wolves. Raccoons are notorious for barking in delight when they see a nutritious supper or growling after a tasty meal.

What Does A Raccoon In The Attic Sounds Like?

Because each urban wildlife species has its particular activity and movement patterns, they generate various noises and scratching in the attic. It is one of the causes of a series of attic noises. Raccoons are one of the larger critters that can get into your attic, but that doesn’t mean the noises they produce are easy to spot for an attic. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, which means they are most active at night.

Raccoon noises in the attic sound like slow walking, sliding or moving. A raccoon in the attic rarely runs or jumps quickly, but it could result from a territorial quarrel or mating. Other sounds such as thumping, thudding, smashing, and banging may be heard when the raccoon makes their first foray into your attic. You can be sure you have a litter of raccoon babies in your attic if you hear these sounds.

Raccoons are nocturnal creatures that are rarely observed during the day. Thus they emit a variety of noises at night. These noises are normal at night, especially when these creatures knock things over or search through attics, trash cans, and other places. In response to danger or threat, raccoons frequently emit growling sounds at night. Some of the noises you can hear if you have a raccoon in your attic are:

• Vocal Voices. Raccoon sounds include vocalizations used by the animals to interact with one another and noises produced by their rustling, scurrying, and other activities. Raccoons are known for their vocal abilities, using over 200 various noises to communicate, including purring, chittering, growling, snarling, hissing, crying, and even shrieking like owls. The sounds of a baby raccoon include mewing, whimpering, and whining.
• Movement noises. Raccoons produce noise even when they are silent vocally. Its presence is often indicated by the sound of an animal rustling or scurrying about the attic or in the chimney. Raccoons make typical raccoon noises when they stroll across rooftops, build dens, or try to get in through holes or other small openings that lead to attractive denning places. Due to the pests’ nocturnal nature, people are most likely to hear raccoon sounds at night.