Can Raccoons Break Through Ceiling?

“A raccoon in the attic” is very common during early spring and summertime. One concern that individuals have is “Can a raccoon fall through my ceiling?”. Female raccoons have as many as 7 kits with the average litter being 3 – 4 babies.

Drop ceilings are the weakest. Drop ceiling tiles are made of a fiber material that looks like shredded cardboard boxes. These ceilings are relatively vulnerable and are certainly not made to support any weight. If you factor some water damage weakening the tile … be careful. There are times where drop ceilings make it through a raccoon invasion, however, a break-through would be possible. Contact Jackson raccoon removal before that happens. There was a worker who found they had a wildlife problem when they entered work to see a number of raccoons peering back out of a space in the ceiling. They were a little stressed. Raccoons have little “hands” and can grip and have the ability to raise tiles up if they wish to.

Drywall ceilings are somewhat stronger than drop ceilings, but never trust them when examining an attic. Their strength is dependent, to a terrific extent, on the quality of the craftsmanship that went into installing them. There are double-layered drywalls with plenty of excellent screws holding all of it up and there are drywalls that are just barely hanging in place.

Other factors that weaken the ceiling

Water damage is as big a problem for drywall as it is for drop ceilings. Drywall is a layer of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of thin cardboard. It is fairly stiff when it is dry, however turns to mush when it gets wet. Raccoons do not necessarily “go to the bathroom” outside. They are not discarding gallons of fluid when they urinate, however it doesn’t help any. They are constantly a few “calling cards” and pee spots in attics where they are denning. This, along with garden variety water damage, can increase the odds of a fall-through.

If this is your situation, you need to plan for getting the raccoons out in the event that a break does take place. Once they fall, chances are good that they will not be able to get back up into the ceiling. They will be stressed and are most likely to start to tear their way to escape. At this moment you need to be very mindful. You do not want to be in the room with a stressed raccoon and get bitten. If you have a raccoon in the attic, it is a good idea to have the problem taken care of ASAP. The longer it is up there, the worse the mess will be and the more likely that there could be other problems.

Will a Raccoon Have Infants in My Attic?

Yes, certainly. Finding a safe warm den to have babies is the most likely reason a raccoon will move into your attic in the first place.

Can Raccoons Scratch Through Walls?

It’s not likely that if you hear raccoons in the wall that they will dig their way through the walls. A panicked raccoon that is trapped would definitely try to get out through a wall however it’s unlikely they would be able to dig through. A raccoon is not likely to get stuck in a wall unless you’ve sealed it in with no other way to go out.

Can Raccoons Break Through the Ceiling?

A raccoon that has lived in one place for long enough may be able to damage the ceiling with urine, making it softer and weaker over time. If you believe you have a raccoon in your attic, do not wait to call an expert raccoon removal professional.

Can a Raccoon Climb up a Wall?

Raccoons are great climbers. Raccoons can climb up nearly any surface with the exception of glass and un-weathered sheet metal. They are known to climb wood, stone, brick, masonite siding and downspouts.

Can Raccoons Get on the Roof?

Raccoons can get on the roof of a house. They still may be able to climb up a downspout and a determined raccoon may climb up brick or siding.

Can Raccoons Climb up Trees?

Raccoons are excellent at climbing trees. In the wild, raccoons will climb up trees to build a den in a hollow nook of a tree. Trees near your house must be cut so they’re not too close to your home. You can also wrap a two-foot large sheet metal starting 2 feet from the ground to keep them out of your trees. This may also work for squirrels.

How Quickly Can Raccoons Run?

Raccoons are known to run up to 15 MPH. They might run on average between 8 – 15 MPH.

How Do You Get a Raccoon Out of Your Attic?

If you have raccoons in your attic, you should work with a professional animal removal specialist. It is most likely that the raccoon is a female with a den and infant raccoons.

Their instinct is to remain peaceful, so you may not even be aware they are in the attic. Your attic ought to likewise be expertly cleaned due to the diseases brought on by raccoon feces.

Also Read:
Will Raccoons Leave Attic on Their Own?