Raccoons
The "masked bandit" has adapted well to the urban landscape.
Raccoon Damage Prevention: Raccoon Control and Removal Methods
The pesky “masked bandit” raccoon is notorious for causing damage outside of the home as well as inside. Trained animal professionals, like Critter Control wildlife managers, can help to control raccoon damage through effective exclusion methods. Contact Critter Control today for more information on trapping raccoons or raccoon removal services.
Raccoon Damage Outside of the Home
The most common complaints associated with raccoons include feasting on garden crops, raiding garbage cans, and preying on birds in nests and feeders. Sometimes, raccoons will sod the ground looking for worms, insects and grubs, causing damage to lawns.
Raccoon Damage Inside the Home: Raccoon Damage in Attics
In seek of shelter during the cold winter months, raccoons will often enter homes, most commonly inside attics. Raccoons also enter buildings in the spring and early summer to raise their litters. We typically find raccoon entry points on a home that include roof vents, construction gaps, rotten boards, louver vents, soffit vents and chimneys. Some raccoons will even tear through the wood of a roof if it soft enough. Common raccoon damage within attics includes damage to the insulation from feces/urine, damage to the insulation or wiring from building nests, staining of drywall from urine and water damage at the entry point, and damage to the shingles, fascia board, soffits and vents that they enter through. If you think a raccoon may be causing damage in your home, contact a Critter Control professional for raccoon removal services to ensure your safety as well as the raccoon’s.
How to Identify Raccoons
What Do Raccoons Look Like?
Most raccoons weigh between 10 and 20 pounds and can range between 2 and 3 feet in length, including its tail.
Where Do Raccoons Live?
Raccoons can be found both in rural and urban areas. They are nocturnal animals, so you are more likely to see them at night. Once they make a home, male raccoons will usually stay within 3 to 20 square miles, while females have a smaller range of 1 to 6 square miles. Raccoons will make nests outside – in tree cavities and ground burrows – and inside – in chimneys, attics and garages.
Raccoons do not usually hibernate for a full winter, but instead will “hole up” for days, weeks or sometimes months in the cold weather.
How Many Raccoons Are In A Raccoon Litter?
Raccoons will breed in the early spring, between February and March. They will carry their young during a 60-day gestation period. Within one litter, raccoons will have anywhere from 1 to 8 pups; however, 4 to 5 pups per litter is usually average.
Baby raccoons (pups) are born with their eyes closed and typically open their eyes when they are 3 weeks of age. Pups will leave the nest between 8 and 12 weeks of age.
What Do Raccoons Eat?
Raccoons are omnivorous, so they will eat both plants and animals. The most common plant foods for raccoons are fruits, berries, grains and nuts. Raccoons will also eat bird eggs, insects, rodents, amphibians and even crustaceans.
Raccoon Precaution and Public Health
When raccoons are present in or near your home, it is important to keep a safe distance away unless you are properly trained in handling raccoons. These animals will commonly carry mites, ticks and fleas (known as ecto-parasites). Raccoon roundworm is spread through their microscopic eggs and also in their droppings. Rabies can be transferred to humans if they are bitten by a rabid raccoon. There was recently a large outbreak of raccoon rabies in the eastern U.S.
When dealing with raccoons, the best solution is to call a Critter Control professional. We can help get rid of your raccoon problems and prevent raccoon damage with safe and effective solutions. Our professionals are trained in handling raccoons and have the proper safety equipment and treatments for controlling raccoon situations.
Raccoon Control and Removal Methods
Raccoon control and raccoon removal solutions often include exclusion practices: sealing up the raccoon’s entry points within a home. When raccoons enter through chimneys, they can cause significant damage if they decide to explore the home. Critter Control has effective methods for covering chimneys with screens or rain-caps. Please contact your local Critter Control office for professional raccoon control and removal services.
Raccoon Legal Status
Raccoons are considered game animals in most of the United States. Usually a permit is required to hunt/trap raccoons, so please check with local authorities.
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