Raccoons are nocturnal animals, which means they are most active at night. During the day, raccoons will seek out dark, enclosed spaces to sleep and rest until nighttime. Some of the most common daytime resting places for raccoons include:
In trees
One of the most common places for raccoons to rest during the day is up in trees. Raccoons are excellent climbers and will often climb high up into the branches of trees to find a safe, secluded spot to sleep. They may curl up in a fork between branches or inside a tree hollow. Sleeping high up in trees helps keep raccoons safe from predators while they are in a vulnerable resting state.
In burrows
Raccoons may also seek out burrows, cavities, or dens in the ground to sleep in during daytime hours. They may use a natural hole in a tree, a rock crevice, brush pile, log, or abandoned burrow built by another animal. These types of enclosed spaces help protect raccoons from bad weather and prying eyes of predators while they rest.
In man-made structures
As raccoons adapt to living around human settlements, they often find refuge during the day in man-made structures. Attics, crawl spaces, sheds, barns, and garages often mimic the dark, enclosed dens raccoons prefer. These urban structures provide safety and seclusion. Raccoons may sneak into gaps in siding, down chimneys, or through other openings to access these hiding spots for daytime sleeping and laying low.
In ground nests
Raccoons occasionally build their own nests on the ground to sleep in during daylight hours. These are often just a shallow hole or indentation lined with leaves, grass, and other vegetation for insulation. Raccoons may reuse and return to these ground nests, especially nursing mother raccoons raising young. The nest helps protect the vulnerable baby raccoons from predators and weather while mom is sleeping.
In fields and meadows
Raccoons living in more rural or natural areas often simply find a spot to lay low in a field, meadow, or other open grassy area. The tall vegetation helps conceal them from sight while they rest during the day. They may flatten out a small area to form a nest or simply curl up in a natural depression in the ground masked by surrounding grasses and plants.
Under porches and decks
The enclosed space beneath porches and decks are popular daytime hangouts for raccoons living near humans. There is protection from sun, rain, wind, and watchful eyes, allowing raccoons a peaceful place to sleep undisturbed during daylight hours. This can sometimes lead to negative interactions if raccoons subsequently try to access or den inside the home from under the deck.
In storm drains
Urban raccoons will often disappear down storm drains and into sewers during the day. The shelter of storm drains mimics the enclosed dens raccoons prefer. It also provides protection from potential predators or encounters with people and pets as raccoons rest.
Why do raccoons sleep during the day?
Raccoons are primarily nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active at night. There are some key reasons why raccoons prefer to sleep and rest during the day:
- Avoid predators – Many predators, like hawks, coyotes and bobcats, hunt during the day. Sleeping concealed in dens keeps raccoons hidden and safe.
- Temperature regulation – Raccoons can overheat easily in high daytime temperatures. Sleeping during the hottest parts of the day helps them regulate body temperature.
- Enhanced night vision – Raccoons have excellent night vision, which allows them to more safely search for food and navigate at night.
- Timing of prey activity – The small animals, insects, and other prey raccoons eat are often more active and available at night when raccoons are awake.
So by sleeping during the day and waking up as it gets dark, raccoons are well adapted for the nocturnal lifestyle that helps them survive and thrive.
How do raccoons behave during the daytime?
Even though they are primarily nocturnal, raccoons may still exhibit some activity and behaviors during daytime hours, especially in urban areas with artificial light and food sources.
Daytime activity peaks
Raccoons often have a peak time of increased activity in the early morning hours before dawn and again in the late evening as dusk approaches. This aligns with their natural sleep/wake cycle and transition into nocturnal movement.
Foraging for food
If a reliable food source is available, raccoons may venture out of their sleeping spot to feed during the day. Urban trash cans, pet food bowls, bird feeders, and compost piles may all be raided by hungry raccoons in the daytime if not well secured.
Moving sleeping spots
Raccoons don’t always sleep in the same den every day. They may switch resting spots on different days to reduce parasite risk and move closer to a new food source.
Mother raccoons with young
Nursing mother raccoons often need to forage and seek food during the day to provide adequate nutrition for their kits. The baby raccoons may also become active during daytime hours under their mother’s supervision.
Nocturnal animals
Despite some exceptions, raccoons remain primarily nocturnal animals who prefer to be active at night. Urban individuals may be the most likely to adapt to increased daytime activity and movement.
What signs indicate raccoons are living nearby?
If raccoons have taken up residence near your home, there are some signs that will likely indicate their daytime sleeping spots and nocturnal activity:
- Sightings of raccoons at night
- Knocking, scratching, or other noises in walls, attic or rooftops
- Ransacked garbage cans and spilled trash
- Pet food bowls overturned and emptied
- Paw prints or tracks around home
- Scat containing undigested seeds and food items
- Tree holes or burrows in ground near home
- Flattened areas and matted vegetation forming daytime nests
These signs help confirm that raccoons have been foraging on your property at night and resting nearby during the day. A wildlife expert can then be called upon to remove and relocate raccoons humanely.
Fun facts about raccoon daytime habits
- Raccoons actually sleep more during the winter, sometimes up to a month in a den straight.
- Nursing mother raccoons may not leave the den for weeks caring for newborn kits.
- Raccoons move around a lot, rarely reusing the same daytime sleeping spot for long.
- Their ringed tails act as insulation to keep raccoons warm when sleeping.
- Raccoons enter a lighter sleep phase than we do where they wake up frequently to check for threats.
- Urban raccoons with easy food sources tend to be active during the day more often.
- Captive raccoons are active both day and night since they are provided with food, water and shelter.
- Tree hollows found over 30 feet up are safest from most predators.
- Mother raccoons will aggressively defend their young if the den site is disturbed.
- Raccoons switch sleeping spots to avoid parasite build up.
Conclusion
Raccoons are primarily nocturnal animals who prefer to rest, sleep and lay low during the daytime hours. They seek out dark, enclosed dens like tree hollows, underground burrows, attics and crawlspaces where they can safely get away from predators and disturbances while sleeping. Urban raccoons especially may adapt to some occasional daytime activity and foraging if food sources allow it. But these intelligent mammals largely live by the clock, sleeping and resting up safely during the day to be ready to head out under cover of night and do what raccoons do best – scavenge, forage and flourish in the dark!