As the holidays wind down and the deep freeze of January settles over Louisville, most homeowners assume that wildlife is fast asleep. While it is true that groundhogs are hibernating and squirrels are less active, there is one animal that is just getting started: the Raccoon.

In Kentucky, the raccoon cycle begins early in the year. While you are huddled inside during the cold days of January and February, raccoons are beginning their mating season. This period marks a significant shift in behavior that often brings them into direct conflict with humans.

The Timeline of Activity

Understanding the biological calendar of the raccoon is the key to protecting your home.

January – February: The Mating Season

This is a critical time for homeowners. Male raccoons (boars) are roaming widely in search of females (sows). During the rest of the year, a male might stick to a smaller territory, but driven by the urge to mate, he will travel miles in a single night.

What you might notice:

• Noise: You may hear fighting in your yard or on your roof. Males compete fiercely for females, and these brawls can be loud, sounding like screaming or growling.
• Wandering: You might see raccoons in places you don’t normally see them, or at odd times of the day, as they expand their search.
• Aggression: Males are short-tempered right now. Keep your dogs leashed and supervised in the backyard at night.

March – April: The Birthing Season

Once mating occurs, the female’s priority shifts immediately. She is now pregnant (gestation is about 63-65 days) and she has one goal: finding a safe, warm, and secure den to give birth.

In the wild, she would look for a hollow tree or a rock crevice. In the suburbs of St. Matthews, Middletown, or the Highlands, natural hollows are scarce. However, your attic, chimney, or crawl space offers a perfect substitute. It is dry, it is warm (thanks to your furnace), and it is protected from predators.

The Danger Zone: If you hear heavy thumping in your attic in late February or early March, it is likely a pregnant female scouting or establishing a nest. This is the “golden window” for removal. If you evict her now, she can move on easily. If you wait until she gives birth, the situation becomes infinitely more complicated.

May – June: The Nursery Phase

By May, the kits (babies) are growing. A typical litter is 3 to 5 kits. For the first few weeks, they are quiet. But as they grow, they become vocal. You will start to hear “chittering” sounds—often described as sounding like birds—coming from your ceiling or fireplace.

Why This Matters for Your Home

A female raccoon preparing for birth is a destructive force. She needs to get inside, and she has the strength and dexterity to do it.

• Roof Vents: She will rip aluminum or plastic roof vents right off the shingles.
• Soffits: She can push up vinyl soffit panels to squeeze into the eaves.
• Chimneys: An uncapped chimney is an open invitation. She will climb down the flue and nest on the smoke shelf, just above the damper.

Once inside, the damage escalates. She will trample insulation to make a bed, tear up ductwork, and establish a latrine (toilet area), contaminating your home with urine and feces.

Prevention: What You Can Do Now

The best way to handle raccoon mating season is to prepare your home before a pregnant female moves in.

1. Inspect Your Roof: Use binoculars to check for loose shingles, bent vents, or gaps in the fascia.
2. Cap Your Chimney: This is non-negotiable. Every chimney in Louisville should have a stainless steel cap. It is the #1 entry point for mother raccoons.
3. Trim Trees: Cut branches back at least 6-8 feet from your roofline. Don’t give them an easy bridge to your house.
4. Secure Trash: Don’t provide a food source that attracts them to your property in the first place.

What If She’s Already Inside?

If you suspect a raccoon is already in your attic during this season, do not simply seal the hole. If you seal a mother raccoon inside, she will tear your house apart trying to get out. If you seal her outside while her babies are inside, she will rip through your roof to get back to them, or the babies will die and rot in your walls.

Professional removal during mating and birthing season requires a specific strategy. We often use “eviction fluid” (male raccoon scent) to trick the female into thinking a predator is nearby, causing her to move the babies on her own. It is the most humane and effective way to solve the problem.