Raccoons are among the most adaptable mammals in North America. Their ability to thrive in forests, wetlands, suburbs, and even major cities makes people ask:
Where do raccoons live—and how do they choose their habitat?

This guide breaks down every raccoon habitat, including dens, seasonal changes, suburban environments, and behavioral patterns. It also includes expert notes, tracking tips, and FAQs to help homeowners, hikers, and wildlife observers understand raccoon living habits accurately.

⭐ Short Answer

Raccoons live in forests, wetlands, farmlands, suburbs, and urban neighborhoods. They den in hollow trees, rock crevices, abandoned burrows, attics, crawl spaces, chimneys, sheds, storm drains, and dense brush. Their preferred habitat includes easy food access, water nearby, and safe shelter for resting and raising kits.

Raccoons Are Highly Adaptable Mammals

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) can live almost anywhere because they are:

Omnivorous (they can eat almost anything)
Nocturnal (avoiding daytime predators and people)
Excellent climbers and swimmers
Capable of using human structures for shelter

This adaptability allows them to survive in environments from deep forests to downtown cities like Chicago, Toronto, and New York.

Primary Raccoon Habitats

Below are the major environments where raccoons naturally live.

1. Forests (Their Original Habitat)

Forests: The Perfect Habitat for Raccoons

Forests offer raccoons some of the most ideal living conditions in the wild. These environments provide everything raccoons need to thrive, from safe shelter to plentiful food and water. Hollow trees, for instance, serve as natural dens where raccoons can sleep, rest, and raise their young safely away from predators. The abundance of water sources, such as streams, ponds, and forest puddles, ensures raccoons remain hydrated and supports their foraging activities.

In addition to water, forests are rich in food options. Raccoons are omnivores, and the dense vegetation provides access to insects, fruits, nuts, and small prey such as frogs, birds, and rodents. This variety ensures a balanced diet year-round, which helps raccoons grow healthy and maintain high energy levels. Thick underbrush and foliage also offer excellent cover, allowing raccoons to move stealthily while avoiding predators and human disturbances.

Both deciduous forests, which lose their leaves seasonally, and mixed forests, which combine coniferous and deciduous trees, are known to support high raccoon populations. The diversity of plant life in these forests creates numerous microhabitats, each providing shelter, food, or nesting opportunities.

Common Forest Den Sites for Raccoons:

Hollow logs lying on the forest floor
Cavities in fallen or standing trees
Abandoned burrows from foxes, badgers, or other medium-sized mammals
Dense brush piles and thickets that provide camouflage

Field Tip:
When exploring forested areas, look for tree cavities wider than a basketball. These often indicate potential raccoon dens, as raccoons prefer spacious hollows that allow easy entry and exit while keeping their young safe. Observing these signs can give wildlife enthusiasts and researchers valuable insight into raccoon activity and population density in a forested area.

2. Wetlands & Water-Rich Areas: A Raccoon Paradise

Raccoons are especially drawn to wetlands and areas rich in water, such as marshes, lakes, streams, ponds, and riverbanks. These habitats provide not only essential hydration but also an abundance of food resources, making them prime locations for raccoon foraging and denning.

One of the main attractions of wetlands is the plentiful supply of aquatic prey. Raccoons are skilled foragers and often hunt for crayfish, clams, frogs, tadpoles, and small fish along shallow waters. The soft, muddy ground near water bodies makes it easy for raccoons to dig for insects, grubs, and other invertebrates that hide beneath the surface. This combination of land and water prey allows raccoons to maintain a varied and nutritious diet throughout the year.

Dense vegetation along the edges of wetlands, such as reeds, cattails, and shrubs, provides excellent cover for raccoons. These natural barriers help raccoons remain hidden from predators while giving them strategic spots for nighttime hunting. Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, and the safety offered by thick plants allows them to move freely and forage efficiently after dusk.

Common Raccoon Activity Areas in Wetlands:

Shallow stream edges and riverbanks for fishing and digging
Marshy areas with dense reeds for hiding and resting
Pond shores where amphibians and small fish are abundant
Fallen logs or brush piles near water for temporary shelter

Field Tip:
When exploring wetland areas, look for tracks along muddy banks—raccoon footprints are easily distinguishable by their hand-like shape. Early evening or just after sunset is often the best time to observe raccoons actively hunting and foraging near these water-rich environments.

EEAT Note:

Wildlife biologists frequently record high raccoon density near wetlands because these areas provide the highest protein availability year-round.

3. Rural Habitats: Cornfields and Farm Structures

Raccoons are highly adaptable and thrive not only in forests and wetlands but also in rural areas, especially where farmland and agricultural buildings are present. Cornfields, barns, hay storage buildings, windbreak tree lines, and even abandoned sheds offer raccoons both food and shelter, making these rural habitats particularly attractive.

One major reason raccoons favor rural areas is the abundance of corn, which is a carbohydrate-rich food they love. Open fields and stored grain provide easy, high-calorie meals that can sustain raccoons throughout the year. Additionally, barns and hay storage buildings attract rodents and insects, which raccoons readily hunt to supplement their diet. Access to water from farm irrigation systems, ponds, or water tanks further enhances the suitability of rural areas for raccoon populations.

Windbreak tree lines and hedgerows provide raccoons with natural cover as they move between fields and structures. These sheltered pathways allow them to travel safely while avoiding predators and human activity. Abandoned sheds or outbuildings also serve as temporary dens, particularly during harsh weather or the breeding season.

Tip for Landowners:
If raccoons are raiding cornfields or grain storage areas, motion-activated lights installed along the edges of fields can be an effective deterrent. Additionally, securing barns and storage buildings with raccoon-proof locks and sealing gaps in structures helps prevent unwanted intrusions. Understanding raccoon behavior in rural settings is key to both protecting crops and coexisting with these adaptable animals.

Urban & Suburban Raccoon Habitats

This is where raccoons are most visible to people.

4. Suburban Neighborhoods: Raccoons in Residential Areas

Suburban neighborhoods provide raccoons with surprisingly abundant resources, making them ideal habitats for these adaptable animals. Gardens, compost bins, outdoor pet food, bird seed, and household garbage cans offer a constant and easily accessible food supply. Decks, backyard sheds, and other structures provide safe hiding spots, especially during the day when raccoons are resting.

Common suburban den locations include areas that are often overlooked by homeowners: under decks, inside crawl spaces, in backyard sheds, or beneath wood piles. These locations provide shelter from weather and protection from potential threats, allowing raccoons to establish temporary or even long-term homes close to humans.

Suburban areas are particularly attractive because they offer plentiful food sources while lacking natural predators such as coyotes or large birds of prey. The abundance of edible scraps from gardens, compost, and bird feeders allows raccoons to thrive with minimal effort. Nighttime activity is common, as raccoons are nocturnal and take advantage of the cover of darkness to forage safely.

Tip for Homeowners:
To discourage raccoons from settling in suburban yards, secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids, avoid leaving pet food outdoors overnight, and install fencing or motion-activated lights around gardens and compost bins. Checking decks and sheds regularly for signs of nesting—such as shredded insulation or droppings—can help prevent raccoons from taking up residence.

5. Cities & Downtown Areas

Urban raccoons are larger, bolder, and more active at night.
They commonly live in:

Attics
Chimneys
Apartment roofs
Dumpster zones
Under bridges
Storm drains
Abandoned buildings

Tip for Homeowners:

Use lockable metal trash cans—plastic bins are too easy for raccoons to open.

Where Raccoons Build Their Dens

Regardless of habitat, raccoons choose dens that are:

Dry
Elevated or hidden
Hard for predators to reach
Close to food and water

Common Den Types:

Hollow trees
Rock crevices
Brush piles
Abandoned burrows (fox, groundhog, badger)
Attics
Chimneys
Crawl spaces
Storm drains
Abandoned vehicles

Dens for Raising Kits (Baby Raccoons)

Mother raccoons choose secure, quiet, warm locations.

Preferred maternal dens:

Attics
Large hollow trees
Barn lofts
Chimneys with caps removed
Dense thickets

EEAT Wildlife Note:

Researchers found that mother raccoons may move their kits 3–5 times during the first two months to avoid predators or disturbances.

How Raccoons Choose a Habitat

Raccoons select living areas based on four major factors:

1. Food Availability

The single biggest factor.
Areas with fruits, insects, garbage, or pet food attract raccoons.

2. Water Sources

Raccoons rarely den far from water. They prefer habitats within 300–500 feet of a water source.

3. Safe Shelter

Dense cover or structures that provide hidden, secure sleeping locations.

4. Low Daytime Disturbance

Raccoons prefer dens with:

Minimal noise
Low human traffic
Protection from dogs and predators

Signs Raccoons Live Nearby (Field Tracking Tips)

Look for:

5-finger hand-like paw prints
Torn shingles or disturbed attic vents
Knocked-over trash cans
Small lawn holes (from grub digging)
Droppings near logs or structures
Tracks along creek beds
Scratched tree trunks

Tip:

If you see “muddy handprints” near water, raccoons are almost guaranteed to be active.

Seasonal Habitat Changes

Raccoons shift dens throughout the year.

Spring

Mothers seek secure, warm dens
Frequent moves to keep kits safe
Suburban attics become prime locations

Summer

Increased movement; multiple dens used
Forest and wetland edges preferred

Fall (High Activity Season)

Raccoons pack on fat
Heavy foraging near crops and suburbs
Dens closer to food sources

Winter

Raccoons do not hibernate, but enter torpor (low-energy resting).
They often:

Share dens with other raccoons
Stay in attics or hollow trees
Limit movement during extreme cold

Why Raccoons Move Dens Often

Raccoons may change dens every few days because of:

Food source changes
Predator pressure
Human disturbance
Weather extremes
Parasite control
Mating season

Tips to Prevent Raccoons From Living on Your Property

Seal attic entry points
Use metal trash cans with locks
Remove bird seed at night
Do not leave pet food outdoors
Install motion lights
Cover chimneys with wildlife-proof caps
Clean up fallen fruits in your yard

EEAT Notes

Raccoon habitat behavior is supported by wildlife biologists, DNR reports, and urban ecology studies from U.S. cities.
Field observations show raccoons choose dens based on cover density, elevation, and proximity to water.
Attic use has increased significantly in suburban environments over the past decade.

FAQs About Where Raccoons Live

Do raccoons live in attics?

Yes. Attics are warm, dry, and safe—ideal for mothers with kits.

Do raccoons live underground?

Sometimes. They use abandoned burrows but prefer elevated dens when available.

Do raccoons stay in one place?

No. They rotate dens frequently, sometimes every 2–4 days.

Do raccoons live near humans?

Yes. Suburbs and cities offer constant food sources, making them raccoon hotspots.

Where do raccoons sleep during the day?

In dens such as hollow trees, brush piles, attics, chimneys, or sheds.

Are raccoons territorial about their dens?

Not strongly. They may share dens, especially in winter.

Conclusion

Raccoons are one of North America’s most adaptable animals. They live in forests, wetlands, farmlands, suburbs, and major cities, using everything from hollow trees to attics as dens. Their habitat choice depends on food, water, safety, and minimal disturbance.

Understanding where raccoons live helps:

Homeowners prevent unwanted denning
Wildlife enthusiasts track behavior
Photographers capture natural activity
Communities manage urban wildlife responsibly