Raccoons are actively testing Westchester rooflines for winter den sites now. A site secured this fall is often the one a pregnant female returns to.
The Short Version
This Pristine Pest news report connects two raccoon behaviors homeowners usually treat as unrelated. Fall attic activity and spring litters share one cause.
Raccoons don't truly hibernate. Instead, they hole up in dens during severe winter weather. That inactive stretch can run for weeks or months in New York.
Securing that den site happens in fall, before the cold sets in. A raccoon that has already used an entry point tends to choose it again later.
Why a Chimney Looks Like a Hollow Tree
In the wild, raccoons prefer hollow trees for denning. Suburban Westchester doesn't offer many of those anymore, so raccoons substitute the next best thing.
"Raccoons perceive a chimney as a hollow tree, ideal denning habitat." Wildlife NY, on raccoon den site selection in New York homes.
Chimneys rank second among raccoon entry points in New York, especially in older homes. Attic access through roofline damage ranks first.
How a Raccoon Actually Gets Up There
Raccoons are agile climbers. Chimney brickwork, a gutter downspout, or an overhanging branch gets them to the roof. No ground-level opening is needed.
Once on the roof, the search becomes systematic. A pregnant female tests every potential entry point on the roofline. That includes loose soffits, deteriorated fascia boards, uncapped chimneys, and damaged vents.
She'll exploit any opening larger than four inches. That threshold is easy to underestimate. Vent covers and small soffit tears that look cosmetic to a homeowner clear it easily.
Why Fall Activity Predicts a Spring Problem
The raccoon denning in October may not be the one that shows up in January. The entry point stays the same.
Once a gap proves usable, it tends to get reused. The next tenant might be an entirely different raccoon.
That's what makes fall the higher-leverage moment to act. Sealing a gap now, before any den is confirmed, is a straightforward job.
Sealing that same gap in February is different. A pregnant or nursing female already inside makes it a far more delicate situation.
Signs a Raccoon May Already Be Denning in Your Attic
Fall den-seeking often goes unnoticed until the signs stack up. Check what's currently true of your roofline and attic.
What Actually Works This Time of Year
Never seal an opening without confirming it's empty first. A trapped adult turns exclusion into a crisis. So does a mother cut off from her young.
A professional-grade, one-way exclusion device lets any occupant leave on its own time. It blocks re-entry the moment they're gone.
Once confirmed clear, the opening gets sealed permanently with material a raccoon can't tear through.
Trimming back branches that touch the roofline removes one common route. Capping an open chimney removes another. Our Home Shield Exclusion program handles this kind of permanent sealing work.
Our wildlife control service covers safe removal and one-way exclusion for an already-active den.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do raccoons target attics and chimneys in the fall?
Raccoons hole up during severe winter weather and become largely inactive for stretches of days or weeks. Fall is when they scout and secure a dry, enclosed den site before that period begins. Attics and chimneys mimic the hollow trees they'd use in the wild.
How do raccoons get onto a roof in the first place?
Raccoons are skilled climbers that use chimney brickwork, gutter downspouts, and overhanging branches to reach a roofline. Once there, they test every loose soffit, fascia board, chimney, and vent for an opening.
Why does it matter if a raccoon dens in my attic this fall specifically?
An entry point used in fall often gets reused by a pregnant female the following winter. New York's peak birthing season runs late January through April, and a den already established by fall gives her a head start.
Can I seal an entry point myself once I confirm it's empty?
Only after confirming no raccoon is currently inside, since sealing an active den can trap an adult or separate a mother from young. A one-way exclusion device, installed by a professional, lets any occupant leave before the opening closes for good.
Sources
Last updated: September 11, 2026
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