What does raccoon damage look like?

September 23, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Humane Society of the United States, raccoons are highly adaptable and are a common source of wildlife conflict in residential areas. Understanding what does raccoon damage look like? is the first step toward protecting your property from these clever and destructive nocturnal animals.

Quick Summary

The most common signs of raccoon damage include missing or torn roof shingles and vents, shredded insulation in attics, destroyed gardens and lawns, knocked-over trash cans, and communal droppings called latrines, which carry significant health risks.

Key Points

Visible Entry Points: Check your roof, soffits, and vents for torn shingles, bent metal, and large holes caused by a raccoon forcing its way inside.
Communal Latrines: Look for piles of dark, tubular droppings in specific spots on your roof, attic, or deck, as these communal sites are a major health hazard.
Nocturnal Noises: Listen for loud thumping, scratching, growling, and chattering sounds coming from your attic or walls, primarily at night.
Damage to Insulation and Wiring: Inspect your attic for shredded insulation used for nesting and chewed electrical wires, which pose a significant fire risk.
Yard and Garden Mess: Be on the lookout for consistently overturned garbage cans, dug-up lawns, and damaged plants, which are clear signs of raccoon foraging.
Hand-Like Tracks: Examine muddy areas, dust trails in the attic, or downspouts for distinct, five-fingered, hand-like footprints.

Common Signs of Raccoon Damage Outside Your Home

Recognizing the initial signs of raccoon activity can save you from extensive, costly damage. Raccoons are persistent and resourceful, often leaving a trail of destruction as they search for food and shelter.

Damage to the Roof and Entry Points

Your roof is a primary target for a raccoon seeking a warm, safe place to nest, such as an attic or chimney. Look for these specific indicators from the ground and with a careful inspection.

Missing or damaged shingles: Raccoons will use their strength to tear off shingles, creating an entry point. This damage often appears isolated to one section of the roof, unlike storm damage which is more widespread.
Damaged soffit, fascia, and vents: They will pry or chew through weakened or unsecured areas to create a larger opening. Bends or breaks in these materials are a clear giveaway.
Clogged gutters and downspouts: Raccoons may use gutters as a pathway or resting spot, and their nesting materials or droppings can cause blockages that lead to water damage.
Smudge marks: As they repeatedly climb, their greasy fur can leave dark smudges along downspouts or on the siding of your house.

Destruction in the Yard and Garden

Outdoor areas provide ample food and foraging opportunities for raccoons, leading to a variety of identifiable damage.

Overturned garbage cans: This is one of the most classic signs of a raccoon. They are clever enough to lift lids and scatter trash in their hunt for scraps.
Dug-up lawns and gardens: Raccoons forage for grubs, earthworms, and insects by tearing up sod and digging small holes in your lawn. In gardens, they may eat fruits and vegetables, like stripping kernels from corn stalks or hollowing out melons.
Damaged bird feeders: Raccoons are attracted to the high-calorie seeds and suet. They will often knock feeders to the ground to access the contents.
Damaged tree branches: Claw marks on trees, especially near your roofline, can indicate a common pathway raccoons use to access your home.

Interior Signs of a Raccoon Infestation

If raccoons have already gained entry, the damage they cause indoors is often more severe and poses greater health risks.

Disturbances in the Attic and Walls

Once inside your attic, raccoons can cause extensive harm to your home's structural integrity and your health.

Shredded insulation: Raccoons tear and trample insulation to create nests for themselves and their young. This not only causes a huge mess but also compromises your home's energy efficiency.
Chewed electrical wiring: Curious and teething raccoons often chew on wires, which creates a significant fire hazard.
Ceiling stains: The accumulation of raccoon urine can seep through insulation and drywall, causing visible moisture stains or even a sagging ceiling. This often comes with a strong, unpleasant odor.
Scratching and scurrying noises: Since they are nocturnal, you'll likely hear loud thumping or scratching sounds in your attic or walls at night as they move around.

Recognizing Raccoon Droppings and Tracks

Droppings, or scat, and footprints provide definitive evidence of a raccoon's presence.

Latrines: Raccoons have a peculiar habit of using a communal latrine site to defecate. These communal piles of feces are often found on roofs, decks, woodpiles, or in attics. Raccoon feces look like dark, tubular droppings, often containing undigested food like seeds or berries. Caution: Raccoon droppings can contain parasitic roundworm eggs that are extremely dangerous to humans and pets, so never handle them directly.
Hand-like tracks: Raccoon footprints resemble miniature human hands. They have five finger-like toes on both their front and back paws and are easily visible in mud, snow, or dust.

Comparing Raccoon Damage to Other Pests

To ensure you're dealing with raccoons and not another type of pest, it's helpful to compare the signs of damage.


Feature	Raccoon Damage	Squirrel Damage	Rat/Mouse Damage
Noise	Loud thumping, scurrying, growling, and chattering, primarily at night.	Light, rapid scurrying, scratching, and gnawing, especially during the day.	Light scratching, pattering, and squeaking sounds.
Entry Points	Large holes (often >4 inches) from tearing at roofs, soffits, and vents.	Small, clean-cut, round holes from gnawing at fascia and eaves.	Very small, gnawed openings; often follow electrical or plumbing lines.
Chewing	Chewed wiring, wood beams, and ripped insulation for nesting.	Chewed wood and insulation, but less extensive; often focused on burrowing or access points.	Small, consistent gnaw marks on food containers, wires, and wood.
Scat Size	Larger, tubular droppings (like small dog feces) found in communal piles or latrines.	Small, pellet-shaped droppings, scattered randomly.	Small, rod-shaped droppings found near food sources.

Conclusion: Taking Action Against Raccoon Damage

Identifying raccoon damage early is critical for protecting your home and family's health. The visible signs, from property destruction to communal latrines, point to a serious issue that should not be ignored. Because of the potential health risks associated with their droppings, it's highly recommended to contact a professional wildlife control expert for safe removal and cleanup. They can also provide long-term solutions to prevent future infestations, such as sealing entry points and securing your property. Addressing the problem head-on will ensure your home is once again safe and secure from these persistent creatures.

Wildlife Help: Keeping Raccoons Out of Your Attic

Frequently Asked Questions

In an attic, raccoons can produce a variety of loud, nocturnal noises. You might hear heavy thumping or scurrying sounds, similar to a small child running. They also growl, hiss, and make chattering or purring noises, especially a mother with her young.

Yes, raccoons can cause a house fire. They often chew on electrical wires in attics and walls while nesting or exploring. This behavior creates a serious fire hazard that requires immediate attention.

To identify raccoon damage on your roof, look for missing or torn shingles in specific areas, bent or broken roof vents, and damage to the soffit or fascia. You may also find communal raccoon droppings (latrines) on flatter sections of the roof.

Yes, raccoon droppings are very dangerous. They can contain roundworm eggs ($Baylisascaris procyonis$) that can be harmful, and in some cases fatal, to humans and pets if ingested or inhaled. Never clean up raccoon feces without proper personal protective equipment.

Your lawn is likely being dug up overnight by raccoons searching for grubs, earthworms, and other insects to eat. They will tear up and roll back sections of sod while foraging, leaving behind a messy trail.

Raccoon footprints are distinctive and resemble tiny human hands. Both the front and hind paws have five long, slender, finger-like toes. The prints are often found in mud, snow, or dusty areas near your home.

Yes, raccoons can and often do enter uncapped chimneys to nest. If they get stuck, or if you light a fire, this can lead to a dangerous situation. Installing a steel chimney cap is an effective preventative measure.