i live in Canada and was told a story about raccoons in the winter, (i always thought they just sleep all winter)....
In some ways winter coons are more active than during Spring, Summer or Fall. On bitterly cold days with no clouds or wind coons will come out of their den trees and Sunbath on the tops of large tree limbs. A quite creek bottom stalk looking upward and with your eyes peeled for a bushy tail hanging down will pay dividends in the form of fewer chicken predators.