Raccoon Droppings
Raccoon droppings, also known as raccoon poop, feces, scat, or excrement, can carry Baylisascaris procyonis (raccoon roundworm), a parasite that poses a significant risk to humans and pets. The microscopic eggs can become airborne when droppings dry and are disturbed, and accidental ingestion can lead to severe neurological damage, blindness, or death. Recognizing raccoon feces early helps prevent unintentional exposure.
Preventing contamination of living and working spaces: Raccoons often establish communal “latrines” in attics, crawl spaces, garages, decks, and yards. If droppings are misidentified as those of another animal, contamination can continue unchecked, increasing the spread of parasites, bacteria, and foul odors into indoor air and surrounding surfaces.
Guiding proper cleanup and safety procedures: Raccoon droppings require specialized handling. Knowing what they look like signals the need for protective equipment, controlled removal, and appropriate disinfectants or heat treatment. Improper cleanup—such as sweeping or vacuuming—can aerosolize roundworm eggs and dramatically increase health risks.
Accurate pest diagnosis and control: Identifying raccoon feces helps confirm raccoon activity versus other wildlife such as opossums, skunks, or stray cats. Accurate identification ensures the correct exclusion, trapping, and habitat modification strategies are used, avoiding ineffective or misdirected control efforts.
Protecting pets and children: Pets, especially dogs, are highly attracted to raccoon droppings and can ingest or spread contaminated material into the home. Children playing in yards or sandboxes are also at higher risk. Recognizing raccoon feces allows homeowners to restrict access immediately and reduce the likelihood of exposure.
Supporting property damage prevention: Raccoon droppings are often accompanied by urine, nesting materials, and structural damage. Early recognition can prompt timely intervention before insulation, wiring, or structural components are compromised, reducing repair costs and secondary issues such as mold or insect infestations.
Meeting legal and liability considerations: In commercial or rental properties, unaddressed raccoon contamination can create liability issues if occupants or customers are exposed to health hazards. Knowing how to identify raccoon droppings supports compliance with health, safety, and sanitation standards.
Recognizing raccoon droppings helps property owners understand when the situation exceeds routine cleanup and requires our trained wildlife or pest management professionals equipped to handle biohazard conditions safely and effectively.
What Size Are Raccoon Droppings?
Raccoon droppings are generally 2 to 3 inches long and about ½ to ¾ inch in diameter, making them noticeably larger than rat or squirrel droppings and closer in size to small dog feces.
Variation based on diet: Raccoons are omnivores, so droppings often contain visible food remnants such as seeds, berries, corn, insect parts, or shell fragments. These inclusions can make droppings appear bulkier or uneven in thickness.
Comparison to other wildlife: Raccoon droppings are larger than skunk feces (which are typically thinner) and much larger than rodent droppings, but smaller and less uniform than most dog feces. This size comparison is a key factor in accurate identification.
Because droppings of this size can still be misidentified, they should never be handled bare-handed. Any feces matching this size range should be treated as a potential biohazard until properly identified and safely removed.
What Shape Are Raccoon Droppings?
Cylindrical and tube-like (most common): Raccoon droppings are most often cylindrical or tube-shaped, similar in form to small dog feces. The sides are usually smooth, and the droppings maintain a defined shape rather than breaking into pellets.
Blunt or slightly tapered ends: The ends are commonly rounded or blunt, though one end may occasionally taper slightly. Sharp points are uncommon, which helps distinguish raccoon droppings from those of foxes or coyotes.
Segmented or uneven sections: Droppings may appear segmented or lumpy, especially when the raccoon’s diet includes seeds, nuts, or fibrous plant material. These segments are not separate pellets but connected sections within a single dropping.
Irregular or misshapen forms: Depending on moisture content and diet, raccoon feces can be curved, twisted, or slightly flattened. Soft droppings may spread on contact with surfaces, while firmer ones retain a more rigid structure.
Clustered piles at latrine sites: While individual droppings have a tubular shape, raccoons typically deposit them in clusters or piles, known as latrines. This clustered presentation is a defining characteristic and often more diagnostic than the exact shape of a single dropping.
Visible inclusions affecting shape: Undigested items such as berries, seeds, corn kernels, or insect parts can protrude from or distort the surface, giving droppings a rough or uneven appearance rather than a smooth, uniform form.
The combination of tube-like shape, blunt ends, irregular texture, and clustered placement is far more reliable for identifying raccoon droppings than any single shape characteristic alone.
What Color Are Raccoon Droppings?
Dark brown to black (most common): Fresh raccoon droppings are typically dark brown or nearly black due to moisture content and a protein-rich diet. This is the most frequently observed coloration at active latrine sites.
Medium brown or grayish-brown: As droppings begin to dry, they often lighten to medium brown or gray-brown. This color change is normal and reflects moisture loss rather than reduced risk.
Tan or light brown: Older, weathered droppings—especially those exposed to sun, air, or rain—can appear tan, light brown, or faded gray. These droppings may look chalky or dusty but can still contain infectious roundworm eggs.
Reddish or purplish tones: When raccoons consume large amounts of berries or fruit, droppings may take on reddish, purple, or maroon hues. Visible berry skins or seeds are often present in these cases.
Greenish or yellowish tint: Diets heavy in vegetation, corn, or grasses can produce droppings with a greenish or yellow-brown tint, particularly during growing seasons or near agricultural areas.
Mottled or speckled appearance: Raccoon droppings frequently contain undigested food, creating a speckled or multicolored look rather than a uniform color. Seeds, grains, and insect parts commonly stand out against the darker fecal material.
Color varies widely and cannot be used alone for identification. Any droppings matching raccoon size, shape, and clustered placement should be treated as a potential biohazard regardless of color.
What Do Raccoon Droppings Look Like?
Raccoons characteristically defecate in the same locations repeatedly, creating distinct latrine areas. These are commonly found on flat or elevated surfaces such as rooftops, decks, attics, crawl spaces, woodpiles, hay lofts, and at the base of trees. The repeated use of the same spot is one of the most recognizable indicators of raccoon activity.
Contain visible undigested material: Raccoon droppings frequently include obvious food remnants such as seeds, berries, corn kernels, nut fragments, insect parts, or shell pieces. This gives them a textured, uneven, or speckled appearance, rather than a smooth, uniform look.
Moist when fresh, crumbly or dusty when old: Fresh droppings often appear shiny, moist, or slightly greasy. As they age and dry, they may become brittle, flaky, or powdery, sometimes breaking apart when disturbed—an especially hazardous stage due to potential airborne contaminants.
Strong, unpleasant odor: Raccoon droppings produce a strong musky or ammonia-like smell, particularly at active latrine sites where urine is also present. The odor often intensifies in enclosed spaces such as attics or crawl spaces.
Associated with urine staining and surrounding damage: Latrine areas often show dark staining, damp wood, compressed insulation, or contaminated soil from repeated use. Urine saturation is common and may extend beyond the visible droppings themselves.
Frequently accompanied by other signs of raccoon activity: Raccoon droppings are rarely found alone. They are often associated with tracks, claw marks, torn insulation, scattered trash, damaged vents, or entry holes, reinforcing correct identification.
Even when droppings appear old or weathered, they may still contain viable raccoon roundworm eggs, which are invisible to the naked eye. This makes their appearance deceptively harmless and underscores the importance of treating any suspected raccoon droppings as a serious health hazard.
Where Are Raccoon Droppings Found?
Raccoon droppings can be found in various locations, particularly in areas where raccoons are active. Here are some common places where you might come across raccoon droppings:
Attics and roof voids: Raccoons commonly establish latrines in attics, roof voids, and soffit areas, especially near entry points. Droppings are often found on insulation, along rafters, or in corners where raccoons feel protected and undisturbed.
Flat roof sections and rooftops: Flat or low-slope roofs are prime latrine locations. Raccoons prefer stable, elevated surfaces where they can repeatedly return, often leaving droppings near roof edges, vents, or HVAC units.
Decks, porches, and balconies: Areas under decks, on joists, or in protected corners of porches and balconies are frequent sites. These locations provide cover while remaining close to food sources and travel routes.
Crawl spaces and under buildings: Crawl spaces, pier foundations, and areas beneath sheds or commercial structures are common, particularly when access openings exist. Droppings may accumulate along foundation walls or near support piers.
Garages and outbuildings: Raccoons often use garages, barns, sheds, and storage buildings, especially those left open or infrequently accessed. Droppings are typically found along walls, on stored items, or in loft areas.
Base of trees and fence lines: Outdoors, raccoon droppings are frequently found at the base of large trees, on fallen logs, along fence rails, or on retaining walls. These locations often serve as natural latrine sites along travel routes.
Landscaped areas and yards: Mulch beds, garden edges, and sandboxes are common locations, especially when food sources such as fruit trees, vegetable gardens, pet food, or bird feeders are nearby.
Near trash and food sources: Droppings are often found close to dumpsters, trash enclosures, compost bins, grease traps, and outdoor food preparation areas, particularly around commercial properties.
Inside commercial facilities: In businesses, raccoon droppings are commonly discovered in warehouses, loading docks, ceiling voids, mechanical rooms, and storage areas, especially in older buildings with structural gaps.
The most telling factor is repeated use of the same location. If droppings consistently appear in one spot on a flat surface—especially elevated or sheltered areas—it strongly indicates raccoon activity rather than another animal.
How Often Do Raccoons Poop?
Raccoons generally defecate once to several times per day, depending on diet, age, health, and activity level. Under normal conditions, 1–3 bowel movements per day is common.
High-frequency feeding leads to more droppings: Because raccoons are opportunistic, heavy feeders, especially in urban and commercial environments with abundant food, they may defecate more frequently than their wild counterparts. Access to trash, pet food, crops, or dumpsters increases output.
Latrine behavior concentrates droppings: Raccoons habitually use communal latrine sites, returning to the same locations repeatedly. Even if an individual raccoon only defecates once or twice daily, multiple raccoons using the same latrine can create the appearance of excessive or sudden accumulation.
Spring and summer: Increased feeding and activity typically result in more frequent defecation.
Fall: Heavy feeding before winter can also increase output.
Winter: In colder climates, raccoons are less active and may defecate less often, but they do not truly hibernate.
Indoor vs. outdoor impact: When raccoons gain access to attics, crawl spaces, or commercial structures, even normal defecation frequency quickly becomes a serious sanitation issue due to confined space, repeated use, and accumulation over time.
Why frequency matters for identification: The regular, repeated appearance of droppings in the same location—often daily—is a strong indicator of raccoon activity. This pattern helps distinguish raccoon infestations from one-time wildlife intrusions.
Frequent defecation at shared latrine sites increases the concentration of parasites and pathogens, significantly elevating health risks for occupants, pets, employees, and customers if not addressed promptly and professionally.