What Time Do Raccoons Come Out?

Raccoons can be found in many places, including rural, urban and semi-urban. Since they are nocturnal animals, they’re mostly spotted in the dark. But, it is not uncommon to see them during the day. So, this begs the question; what time do raccoons come out?

Do they come out during the day or at night? Read on to answer that.

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When Do Raccoons Come Out?

As we have earlier said, raccoons are nocturnal. So they come out at night to look for food. While they can’t see perfectly at night like cats, they can see things in the dark and feel them with their paws.

You can compare them to how dolphins see things using their sonar or how dogs smell with their noses.

Surprisingly, even though they are nocturnal animals, they are also active during the daytime, when most of their food is available. You may frequently see them during the day if they’re competing with other raccoons in the environment. So if you spot a raccoon during the day, it is perfectly normal.

Further Explanation

Most of us know raccoons are nocturnal. So, we expect them to be active during the night only. However, these animals can also be spotted during the day. Their typical schedule is hunting at night and resting during the day.

So, most times, they will spend their time resting on large tree holes or hollow parts of fallen dogs during the day. You can also find one in abandoned cars.

Raccoons behave like owls, meaning they look for food when it’s dark. But if you happen to see one during the day, know that it is perfectly normal, and it doesn’t mean that the animal carries viruses or rabies.

They can also hunt for food or shelter during the day. And sometimes, mother raccoons and her babies may come out during daylight.

Raccoons aren’t aggressive if they are not provoked. Therefore, most times, they behave normally. But if you see one with aggressive behavior, it’s best to keep your distance. Please do not attempt to do anything to it on your own.

How Do Raccoons See at Night?

Although raccoons are nocturnal, they can’t see well in the dark like cats and dogs. However, they can find and sense things using their paws. Therefore, it helps them figure out whether something is edible or not.

Unlike primates, raccoons don’t have opposable thumbs, nor do their paws have webbing between their digits like cats and dogs. This allows them to grab things easily and tightly. Once they grasp an object, they can tell whether to eat it or not.

Additionally, they use their dark mask to minimize glare and see better at night. Raccoons have excellent speed, allowing them to pick food quickly when they spot it.

Most times, you will find them in the food trash, which is why manufacturers design raccoon-proof bins. Surprisingly, these animals have few natural predators. A car can easily kill them compared to anything else in urban places.

How is Their Behavior During the Day?

When you spot a raccoon in daylight, you need to observe their behavior. Usually, these animals are alert and not aggressive unless you attack them.

If you see the following behavior in a raccoon, please avoid them and call the wildlife department;

Loud continuous vocalizations
Danger
Doesn’t seem to recognize noises or movements like traffic, or people walking by in their surrounding
Drools, foam in the mouth, or excessive discharge coming from their eyes
Wanders with no direction or intent

These might be indications that the animal is sick. The raccoon may be carrying rabies or other related illnesses. So, please don’t try to deal with it on your own. Instead, call the professionals with experience and let them handle the animal.

What If the Raccoon Isn’t Sick?

Sickness isn’t the only reason a raccoon may be out during the day. These animals are very intelligent and can adapt to most if not all environments. So, you can still spot one during the daylight.

A raccoon may wander around during the day to look for food readily available at this time. They may also be traveling to a different den after being chased or spooked out of their homes.

Additionally, you may see a raccoon in the daytime if they are looking for a young litter. But this is mostly common in spring since most baby raccoons begin to learn survival at this time.

If you see a baby raccoon in daylight, please let it be because they can also be carrying diseases. Plus, their mother is most likely nearby watching them.

Do Raccoons Attack Humans?

Most times, raccoons do not attack human beings if they don’t feel threatened or provoked. They are often afraid of humans and would mostly run away, especially if it’s on its own.

But, if your presence threatens them or they feel provoked, they may attack you to defend themselves or their babies.

If there is a litter nearby, the mother raccoon will protect her babies. In that case, they can bite or scratch you. This could be unfortunate as you may get infected with a dangerous illness.