Raccoon Intelligence

Raccoons are curious and persistent creatures with a penchant for mischief. Evolution has gifted them with excellent hearing, visual acuity, manual dexterity, and superior climbing skills. Perhaps the most impressive thing about raccoons, however, is their intelligence.

Are Raccoons Smart?

Raccoons are incredibly smart with complex, creative problem-solving skills. They are capable of overcoming obstacles like doors, can lids, and locks. They are even able to use critical thinking skills to make decisions. This allows them to be highly adaptable and able to survive in a wide variety of situations and ecosystems – including urban and suburban areas – in close proximity to humans.

What Is the Intelligence Rank of a Raccoon?

While raccoons often outsmart human attempts to keep them away… fortunately, they are not as intelligent as we are. When ranking animal intelligence, they fall just below monkeys but well above domestic pets.

Are Raccoons Smarter Than Dogs?

For sheer intelligence, raccoons are smarter than domestic dogs (and cats). While a raccoon’s brain is smaller than a dog’s, a recent study indicates it has a brain-cell-to-brain-size ratio akin to that of certain primate species. This, coupled with highly dexterous hands, gives raccoons both the problem-solving and manual skills to create all kinds of trouble for humans… especially when it comes to finding food and shelter near human habitation.

Raccoons are notorious for getting into dumpsters, trash cans, and other garbage receptacles. They overturn cans, rip open trash bags, and leave a trail of smelly, rotting destruction in their wake. This in turn can attract rodent and insect pests, creating a secondary infestation.

Their industriousness also allows them to find their way into attics, crawlspaces, and outbuildings. Once there they will nest, eat, and leave toxic urine and droppings in and around your home.

Do Raccoons Have a Good Memory?

Raccoon intelligence is, at least in part, due to their remarkable memories. This allows them to learn from past experiences and to build on that knowledge to solve problems. How long can raccoons remember things? Studies indicate that they can remember information for over three years, including solutions to problems they have encountered.

Raccoons may be smart and cute, but they are highly problematic pests. They are the second-worst carrier of rabies (behind bats) and are vectors for distemper, leptospirosis, and raccoon roundworm. They are known to viciously attack cats or other small pets – transmitting diseases and causing severe injury.

Twin Forks Pest Control® Keeps Your Home Raccoon-Free

If raccoons are outsmarting your efforts to keep them away from your garbage, attic, or shed, we can help. Twin Forks Pest Control® has more than 20 years of experience in year-round wildlife removal, including raccoons, squirrels, and other destructive pests. Contact us online for a free estimate, or call (631) 324-9020 in the Easthampton area; (631) 287-9020 near Southampton, or (631) 298-0500 in or around Southold.