
Raccoons may look sweet and innocent, but when they are infesting your home, it’s a different story. They can eat up food and crops, tear up your walls and floors, and leave droppings and spilled garbage all over the place. They are also carriers of disease, so no matter how cute they might look, you don’t want them anywhere near your house. And in such a situation, consulting a wildlife removal professional can be invalubale. They’ll locate the animals, safely remove them, and help prevent them from returning. Let’s learn about this in detail!
A raccoon is an opportunistic creature and will hunt for food and shelter in any location it can. They are not picky about where they live and will have no issue settling down in your garden or attic. If you have raccoons on your property, it won’t be long before you see and hear the signs. Torn up insulation, walls, wood, and electrical wiring are key indicators that a raccoon has entered your home. You should also look for droppings or evidence of feeding such as spilled garbage cans, knocked over bird feeders, emptied pet food bowls, or disturbed compost piles. Being nocturnal creatures, you will also no doubt hear them moving about at night.
Raccoon infestations can grow quickly, so you should take steps to get rid of them as soon as possible. Here are some effective ways of removing a raccoon infestation.
Hide any potential food sources
Raccoons will usually be attracted to a property when they see it as a feeding site, so make sure you remove any possible sources of food. Trash cans are the number one attraction, so secure all garbage that is left out. You could do this by purchasing heavy trash cans and strapping down the lids with bungee cord or wire. Don’t leave any pet food outside, and make sure any bird feeders are raccoon-proof. Even fallen fruit and nuts from trees will attract the furry creatures, so make a regular sweep of your garden to pick up any fallen produce.
Fence off your property
Installing a secure fence around your garden or home can prevent raccoons from entering. Electric fences will deter them completely and can be placed around particularly vulnerable areas such as fish ponds, edible plants, or compost piles.
Search for nesting sites
Once raccoons have already infested your property, you may need to be proactive in hunting them down. They often reside in overgrown shrubbery or woodpiles, so by doing some yard work and clearing out your garden, you immediately reduce any potential nesting sites. Sealing off chimneys and other entry points will prevent them from getting into your house.
Purchase raccoon control products
There are several products specifically designed for the removal of raccoons, whether to scare, repel, or trap them. Certain chemicals like ammonia will immediately clear a raccoon infestation, while some products frighten them off with loud noises, mimicked predator calls or water sprinklers. If you decide to trap raccoons, make sure you are aware of your legal rights.
Bring in the professionals
If raccoons are a serious problem in your home and you can’t get rid of them, it’s time to call the professionals. A raccoon removal company will be able to track down and remove the stripy pests humanely and efficiently.