Raccoons can cause substantial property damage and spread diseases. They often invade homes, where they scavenge and destroy insulation and drywall.
Several steps can be taken to limit the occurrence of these animals on your property. These include securing trash cans, removing food attractants and closing access to roofs. Contact Raccoon Removal Service Texas now!
Raccoons are attracted to food, water and shelter, all of which you can prevent by eliminating attractants around your home or yard. Keeping garbage cans tightly closed, removing bird feeders and cleaning up fallen fruits and vegetables are some simple steps to take to remove the food sources that bring these nuisance animals close.
You can also install motion-activated sprinklers to scare raccoons away from your property by activating them at night with bright lights or loud noises. This is one of the most effective ways to scare raccoons because they are naturally wary of anything that gets them wet or frightens them. The sprinklers will spray water in their direction when they come near your home or yard, which is enough to make them leave.
Another way to keep raccoons away from your home is to install an electric fence around the area you want to protect. These fences will shock the raccoons when they try to cross them, which is enough to deter them from returning. You can find these fences at most hardware stores or online.
The most important thing you can do to prevent raccoons from accessing your house is to inspect your roof and the areas where they might be gaining entry into your walls or attic on a regular basis. If you spot loose or missing shingles, get them repaired immediately. The same goes for any holes in your walls or attic where raccoons might enter.
You should also clean up your garden regularly, removing vegetables and fruit when they are ripe to stop the raccoons from eating them. If you have a vegetable or fruit-bearing tree, consider building a good fence to keep the raccoons from reaching your crops.
It is possible to wait it out and hope that the raccoons will move on, but this only works for a short amount of time. They will return to their original sites once they realize they can continue getting food there and they will start again seeking out a place to live.
It is also possible to poison raccoons, but this is an extremely dangerous endeavor that should be left to the professionals. Poisoning a raccoon can lead to a number of problems, including death and the spread of disease to pets or humans.
Barriers
One of the most effective ways to keep raccoons from entering your property is to prevent them from having access to food sources and shelter. Trash cans should be kept inside buildings, and lids that are loose should be secured with bungee cords or wire to prevent the animals from upending them and accessing garbage. Metal garbage cans should be secured with a rack or weight to prevent raccoons from climbing on the top of them and lifting lids.
A good fence will help to deter raccoons as well, though it may not be as successful with small yards and gardens since they are excellent climbers and can scale most fence types. Fences that are made of chainlink, wrought iron, picket, or wire may not be as effective as solid wood or vinyl fencing, but they can be used in combination with other barrier methods.
Raccoons often den in attics and crawl spaces, so preventing them from getting to these areas is key to raccoon removal. To discourage raccoons from entering an attic, install a membrane over the entrance. This will block the animal from leaving, and it will also allow you to check for other raccoons.
Using noise and light to scare raccoons away is another effective way to deter them from entering your home or yard. Motion-triggered lights mounted on porches and entryways can be activated by the scurrying of a raccoon, and they will turn off once the animal has left.
Mother raccoons that are raising their young in an attic will usually move the kits on their own when they are old enough. It is important to let the mothers do this so that they don’t attempt to reunite with their babies after they are relocated.
Some people use “one-way” doors to get raccoons out of attics, but these are best used by professionals who can ensure that the raccoons are not separated from their young and then killed. In addition, these devices can encourage the raccoons to evade detection by entering eaves and wall voids where they become lodged.
Trapping
If you find your garden or attic has been invaded by raccoons, the best way to remove them is to trap them. However, the process can be dangerous and expensive. You will need traps, bait, and possibly other materials that are not readily available at your local hardware store. Also, the disposal of captured raccoons may be illegal in your area. This is why hiring a professional wildlife removal company is a smart decision.
If a raccoon is just chilling in your yard, you can often frighten it away with a bright light at dusk or loud noises. You can also cover any possible entry points with a combination of 16-gauge wire mesh and metal flashing to prevent future infestations. If the problem is more serious, a professional wildlife eradication specialist should be called.
A good trap for raccoons is the Havahart humane animal trap. These traps have an easy-to-use lever that releases the raccoon without suffocating it. You can use baits such as chicken parts and entrails, fresh vegetables, cat food, corn, or sardines to lure the raccoon to the trap. Be sure to check the trap on a regular basis. It is not humane to leave an animal trapped for days on end.
You can also try to lure the raccoons to your property with bird seed, apples, or other fruits. Be careful not to place any of these items near a nest as the mother raccoon will likely return and defend it.
Another option is to scout out your neighborhood and see if you can find the raccoon’s den. If you can locate the den, you can try to scare the raccoon out with a flashlight at dusk. You can also try to lure it out with a bowl of cider vinegar or a thumping noise.
If the raccoons are living in your attic, it will be more difficult to frighten them away. The attic will have to be cleaned of feces and urine, which is an expensive but necessary step in the raccoon removal process. You will need a lot of high-strength cleaning equipment and safety gear that includes eye protection, masks or body suits, and gloves.
Exclusion
Raccoons are drawn to dark, confined spaces where they can build nests, dens and raise their young. This is why they often find their way into attics, crawl spaces and basements, as well as sheds, garages and outdoor structures like bird feeders. Once inside, they can cause extensive damage and create a health hazard with their urine and feces. Signs of raccoon activity include ransacked trash cans, ripped off roof shingles, chewed furniture and wood paneling and tracks or smudge marks on walls.
Although raccoon feces may look dry and dusty, it contains disease spores that can become airborne as the waste decomposes. If contaminated, these can cause respiratory illness in humans and pets, including cats, dogs and other domestic animals. It is best to use gloves when cleaning up raccoon poop.
To prevent raccoons from entering your home, seal all possible entry points. Install chimney caps, cover vents and ducts and caulk around foundation, siding and window openings. You can also install a one-way door or other deterrents in the attic and crawl space to help raccoons exit and not return once they’ve left.
For outdoor spaces, try putting up an electric fence around your garden or livestock pen. Also, bring in all pet food at night and don’t leave it outside for long periods of time, hang all bird feeders on hooks that can be bungeed down and purchase or make raccoon-proof garbage cans.
If a raccoon is causing a problem on your property, wildlife control experts can humanely relocate it. However, it’s important to note that since raccoons may carry rabies and are not always vaccinated against it, the health and safety of yourself, your family and your pets should be considered before relocation.
If a sick or injured raccoon is trapped, it should be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies, if possible, before being released. If you’re concerned about rabies, contact your state’s health department for further instructions on how to proceed. Raccoons are clever and resourceful, but their curious nature can be a nuisance when they enter homes or other structures on your property. If you notice signs of raccoon activity, don’t hesitate to call Smith’s for professional raccoon removal.