Direct answer: Most of the time, a raccoon pulled down a downspout extension by loosening a slip-fit connection or yanking on a lightly supported extension. Start by checking whether the extension simply came apart, then look for crushed metal, torn screw holes, or a bent elbow before you buy anything.
Most likely: The most likely fix is reattaching the downspout extension or replacing the damaged downspout connector or elbow if the animal twisted it out of shape.
Animal damage on a downspout usually looks worse than it is, but you want to sort out one thing early: did the raccoon only pull the extension loose at ground level, or did it bend the downspout above it too? If the upper section is still plumb and the outlet shape is intact, this is usually a straightforward reattach or small-part replacement. Reality check: if the extension got dragged around the yard, expect at least one connection to be stretched or split even if it still sort of fits together.
Don’t start with: Do not start by forcing screws through bent pieces or sealing everything with caulk. That usually leaves the extension crooked and still leaking at the joint.
The downspout extension is detached or partly detached, but the wall-mounted downspout above it still looks straight.
Start here: Start with the lower connection and check for a loose slip joint, missing screws, or a connector that got stretched open.
The elbow at the bottom of the downspout is rotated, flattened, or pulled away from the vertical section.
Start here: Check the elbow shape and the screw holes before trying to force the extension back on.
The extension is down, and the vertical downspout or straps on the wall are also pulled loose.
Start here: Check wall straps and fastener holes first, because a loose upper section will keep pulling the lower pieces apart.
After the animal damage, rainwater spills right at the foundation or washes out mulch and soil.
Start here: Confirm the extension path is open and still carries water away, not just reattached at the downspout.
Raccoons often grab or step on the extension near the ground. If the pieces are not bent, they can pop apart without much visible damage.
Quick check: Dry-fit the extension back onto the outlet. If it slides on squarely and sits snug, the joint likely just came loose.
If the extension was yanked sideways, the thin metal or plastic at the transition point usually deforms before the whole downspout fails.
Quick check: Look for flattened corners, split seams, or an opening that is no longer rectangular and even.
When the vertical section can flex, the animal has more leverage and the lower extension keeps dropping back off.
Quick check: Push gently on the vertical downspout. It should not sway much or pull away from the wall.
A heavy, debris-filled extension or one that was already cocked at an angle takes very little extra force to disconnect.
Quick check: Check for packed leaves, mud, or a buried outlet that backs water up into the extension.
You want to know whether this is just a dropped extension or damage that traveled up into the downspout on the wall.
Next move: If you can clearly see one clean separation point and the surrounding pieces still look square, you can move on to reattachment checks. If several joints are loose, or the wall-mounted downspout is also pulled away, treat it as a larger alignment problem instead of forcing the bottom back together.
What to conclude: A single clean disconnect usually means a simple reattach or one small replacement part. Multiple loose points usually mean the assembly shifted and needs support corrected first.
A downspout extension that still fits square can often be reused. Bent pieces almost always leak, fall off again, or hold debris.
Next move: If the extension fits snugly and lines up naturally, you may only need to secure it properly. If the opening is misshapen, split, or only fits when twisted, replace the damaged piece instead of fighting it.
What to conclude: Good fit with no force points to a loose connection. Poor fit points to a bent downspout elbow, connector, or extension end.
If the upper downspout can move, the lower extension will keep working loose no matter how well you fasten the bottom.
Next move: If the vertical section is solid and aligned, you can finish the repair at the lower connection. If the wall section is loose or twisted, secure that first or the extension repair will not last.
Once the fit and support are confirmed, this is where you make the repair hold through the next storm instead of just snapping it back together.
Next move: If the pieces seat fully, stay aligned, and do not sag when you let go, the repair is likely sound. If the extension still wants to twist off or sit crooked, go back and correct the upper alignment or replace the next damaged piece in the chain.
A downspout repair is not done until you know water actually leaves the house area cleanly and the extension stays put under flow.
A good result: If water runs through cleanly and the extension stays in place, the repair is finished.
If not: If water leaks from the joint or backs up, replace the remaining damaged lower part or troubleshoot the buried outlet for a clog.
What to conclude: A clean flow test confirms both the repair and the drainage path. Leakage or backup means there is still a fit problem or a downstream blockage.
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Yes, if the pieces still fit squarely and the upper downspout is solid. If the elbow, connector, or extension end is bent, it will usually leak or fall off again unless you replace the damaged piece.
Dry-fit them without force. If the elbow opening is flattened or twisted, replace the elbow. If the elbow looks true but the extension end is split, crushed, or loose on every try, replace the extension.
Not as the main fix. A downspout extension joint needs proper shape, overlap, and support first. Sealant on a bent or loose joint usually fails once water and movement hit it.
That usually means the animal damage exposed a separate clog or outlet problem. If the lower connection is repaired but water still backs up, troubleshoot the buried downspout or outlet next.
Usually not. Most raccoon damage stays at the lower extension, connector, elbow, or strap. Replace the whole wall-mounted section only if it is kinked, badly crushed, or no longer mounts securely.
The usual reasons are a bent mating piece, a loose wall strap letting the downspout move, or a clogged extension adding weight and backpressure. Fix the alignment and support problem, then test with water.