It looks like January has arrived with some mild temperatures and less snow than usual in southern Ontario. While this may be welcome news for some, it can prompt a change in raccoon behaviour.
Raccoons don’t hibernate like their cousin the black bear. Instead, they have a long nap, waiting for a break in the cold temperatures. When overnight temperatures drop below zero degrees Celsius, raccoons will often sleep in the attics of homes to save energy. They are able to go without food for about 30 to 45 days if necessary.
However, this January may see raccoons behaving differently than in previous years. Despite the overnight temperatures dropping slightly below zero, the lack of snow cover can cause a change in their behaviour. Raccoons will venture out of their warm attic dens, but not to find food. Instead, they have something more important on their minds – mating.
Raccoons generally mate during the January thaw, which can occur in mid to late January. But this year’s unusual warm weather may cause them to mate earlier than normal. Once the baby raccoons are born, there will be a lot of chittering noises coming from the attic. These sounds are made when the baby raccoons feel bothered or hungry, and are often described as multiple birds chirping at once. While these cries are typically heard at night when the mother raccoon goes out for food, they can also occur during the day.
Female raccoons give birth to 1 to 7 babies about 62 days after mating. So be prepared – it’s very likely that the chittering of baby raccoons in the attic will occur earlier this year than in previous years.
