Suburban Raccoons


Raccoon Behaviour

September 22nd, 2022 ernie Posted in Deterrants, Raccoon Removal $, Raccoons in the Attic, Removing Raccoons No Comments »

Raccoons exist in virtually every city across North America and these pesky animals have adapated to living in dense urban environments as well as in suburbia. There is generally abundant food for them available in our yards and especially on garbage day. most people believe they are friendly and cute and should be protected. However once consumers have to deal with a family living in the attic of their home, it is another story. undrestanding raccoon behaviour can help a great deal in preventing problems with these resourceful animals.

Raccoons can climb walls, trees and even downspouts to reach the roof of your home. They know how to puch up the soffit to gain access to your attic where it is warm and protected from the cold weather, rain and snow. Your attic is a great place for them to have their babies and raise them until they are old enough to travel outside the den.

Raccoons can do a great deal of damage. The insulation will be soaked in urine, there are feces everywhere and there is an entrance to the attic which can allow other rodents, birds, and rain to penetrate potentially causing further damage. Raccoons will have at least four dens and travel back and forth depending on food sources and the stage of their pups.

How to Avoid Raccoons In your Attic

Once they are in the attic, the best way to remove them is to install a one-way trap door which lets them out but not back in. after they have left, remove the one-way trap door, make repairs to the entrance and cover the spot with heavy gauge wire mesh to prevent their return. Trapping is a waste of time. Other raccoons will smell the den, check it out, and move in at a later time.

Be proactive and have all potential openings to your attic covered in wire mesh before they move in, especially if you are aware of raccoons in the neighborhood.

Do not leave dog or cat food outside where they can get at it. Place all of your garbage in raccoon-proof containers to avoid providing them with a food source and also spilling the contents of your garbage all over your driveway.

Raccoons love grubs on your lawn and will dig up the grubs which make a mess of the lawn. Treat your lawn to remove all of the grubs, which will improve your lawn as well.

 

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Can Raccoons Climb Downspouts

February 21st, 2017 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

can raccoons climb downspoutsIf it is a stand alone aluminum pipe, probably not. However if there is brick close by raccoons can definitely climb the brick and use the pipe as a bridge to gain access to your attic. The picture in this post amply demonstrates how raccoons climb downspouts. You can see the paw prints on the pipe and the access to the attic. When we were researching this post we watched many videos showing raccoons climbing brick walls, pipes, fences and much more. They are smart and can problem solve which helps them find their way into many places.

Can Raccoons Climb Downspouts

Once they are in the attic, even if you block the entrance or the climbing area, they will find another way. If they have babies in the attic, they will literally tear your roof apart to rescue them.

Homeowners either have to wait until they can travel on their own or somehow get them out without being attacked by the mother. They will do a lot of damage if you do not get them out quickly. Install a one way trap door so they can leave the den but not get back in. There are many companies that will install the trap door and also install heavy gauge chicken wire on all other possible entry points. This is by far the best method to get rid of raccoons in your attic.

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Do’s and Don’ts of Raccoon Removal

January 7th, 2015 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

Raccoon RemovalMost consumers really do not think about raccoons as pests until it is too late. They have created a den inside their home, often in the attic. This will be the first time they are exposed to the local city bylaws. This is the practical side of raccoon removal and getting rid of these raccoons that have set up a den inside their home. The raccoons are looking for a den that is protected from the elements. They also have few enemies. Which are practically nil in suburbia. They also want a place where their pups can be born in safety. They also will raise them until they are old enough to travel. This is where many homeowners also are shocked to find out that there is almost nothing you can do until they are old enough to travel on their own.

Raccoons are very family and maternal oriented. They will protect their young at all costs and they stay together as parents to do the job. If you somehow prevent the parents from entering your home and they have babies inside they are going to do everything they can to get inside. They will literally tear a roof apart to create another entrance point to the den where their babies are. We have created a list of do’s and don’ts of raccoon removal. They come from industry experts. Bottom line is that you should hire a professional to remove them and keep them out. As soon as there is any evidence that they have entered your attic, call a professional.  Have them removed immediately and prevent them from coming back before they have pups and can do a lot of damage.

Do’s and Don’ts of Raccoon Removal – Supported by Bylaws

  • You cannot kill the raccoons or their babies
  • If trapped, they can be let loose no more than one kilometer away
  • Babies must be removed, placed in a box near the home for the parents to find
  • Babies less than 6 weeks old cannot be removed
  • Trapped raccoons must be given food and water
  • Prevent entry by using a one way trap door
  • Remove all food sources so raccoons are not attracted to your area
  • Protect your garbage from raccoons
  • You cannot kill them or treat them in a cruel manner
  • Install wire mesh across all potential openings to keep them out.
  • Even though you are frustrated, just call a professional to do the job right

Raccoons are part of life in the country as well as in suburbia and homeowners are encouraged to protect themselves and their homes by installing wire mesh over all potential openings. If your neighbors are having problems with raccoons, take action now on your own home before they move in. As soon as your neighbor prevents them from entering his home, you can be sure that they will be looking for a new place to set up a den and if you are not protected, they are moving into your place. Removing raccoons and installing the wire mesh can cost anywhere from $300 to $1000 or more, however this is a small amount compared to repairing the damage they can cause.

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Raccoon characteristics

April 21st, 2014 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

Raccoon characteristicsRaccoons are living among us as comfortably as our pets. In fact they tend to ignore us as they go about their daily activity of searching for food. Or searching for a place to live or hide during the day.

They are primarily nocturnal, so if you see one during the day, it is a rare event. Most likely there is something wrong with them. They could either be sick and diseased which means you want to stay well away from them. Or they could have lost their den and could not find another location to spend the day. Also, keep your pets well away from them in case they are diseased.

Raccoon characteristics – Dens

Raccoon characteristics suggest that they will have 4 or 5 dens that they can go to within the area that they live in and search for food. They tend to move around from one den to the next in the search for food within the territory that they live in. As the picture shows, they search for food among the garbage.

They have become quite adept at opening garbage pails and garbage bags. Raccoons tend to make a mess when this happens so many people will keep their garbage inside until it needs to be placed at the curb on garbage day. They can also use animal-proof garbage bins. However, these are typically more expensive than the average garbage can.

Raccoon characteristics – Sickness

If you do see one out during the day, keep your distance. If they are drooling at the mouth or are exhibiting aggressive characteristics they are probably sick and you should stay well away from them. You will want to call animal control to remove them safely from your area.  It is also important to keep your kids and pets well away from the raccoons and also any feces that they may leave behind. Protect yourself from touching or coming in contact with the feces or call someone to properly dispose of the feces. They can be infected and can cause serious disease in humans.

If raccoons are in your home inside your attic, you need to get them out as quickly as possible. Install a one-way trap door to allow them to get out and not back out. Once they are out, you can replace the one-way door with permanent heavy gauge chicken wire that is securely screw nailed to your roof. You may want to also make sure that all other possible entry points are also covered with chicken wire as well. While it may not look really great, it is always better than having them in your attic.

Trapping Raccoons

If someone suggests trapping the raccoons, don’t waste your money. They are unlikely to enter the trap. If they do, you will have a very mad snarling biting raccoon to deal with. Other raccoons can still get into the now vacant den. The best long-term approach is to make sure they can get out with the one-way trap door approach and then seal the entrance with heavy gauge wire mesh so they cannot get back in.

If they have babies in your attic you will need to wait until they are old enough to travel on their own. or get the parents out and then go into the attic to remove the babies. If you leave then in the attic they will die and smell up your attic, the parents may tear another entrance into your attic causing more damage. Wear a protective mask when you enter the attic to avoid contracting any disease that may be present.

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Dead raccoon

February 7th, 2014 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons 3 Comments »

Dead raccoonNo one wants a dead raccoon on the property, let alone in their attic and that is exactly what might happen if you take the wrong steps in your attempts to get rid of raccoons that have set up residence in your homes attic or another building on your property. There is a right way to remove raccoons and a wrong way. Read on for more details.

Avoid using poison on raccoons to make sure that you do not endanger pets and other animals that might stumble upon your bait. Just imagine if your kid’s favorite pet or the neighbors should eat some of the poison bait and suffer as a result. You might just be a very unpopular person for a while. In addition, if the raccoon should crawl back into your attic into an area that is difficult to reach, then you may be causing larger problems than what you wanted. You have to get that body out otherwise the smell will be very bad and your home unlivable!

Dead raccoon vs One Way Trap Door

If you have raccoons in the attic, there is a proper way to remove raccoons and keep them out forever. Not only do you want to get rid of the current family of raccoons, you also want to keep any others in the area that are looking for a home from moving in. There are many raccoons living in suburbia as well as in the country and they can smell a vacant den that is comfortable to move into.

Use a one-way trapdoor to let the raccoons get out of the attic but not back in. This is the best way to really get rid of them. If they can get out and not back in, your problem is solved. Once you are sure they are out, replace the one way trap door with permanent heavy gauge wire mesh so they cannot get in and no other raccoons in the future can get in. Your problems are solved for now and into the future.

Baby Raccoons

If they have babies, you’re going to need to wait until they’re old enough to travel. Baby raccoons are another problem. If you keep the parents from getting too their babies, they may tear the roof apart to find a way to get back to them. You also do not want the babies to die inside your attic. The best approach is to wait until they can travel on their own and get out of the den through the trap door on their own.  While it may mean more of a mess in the attic, the alternative is not great either.

Make sure you install wire mesh over all potential entrances for birds, squirrels, and of course raccoons. while you cover the main entrance, make sure that all other possible entrances are covered with wire mesh as well to keep everything out. It may cost more to have this done, however, you will not regret keeping animals out of your home and there will be no dead raccoons inside your attic.

Hire a professional company to do this installation work for you if you’re uncomfortable with the work or getting up on the roof. There is no sense in endangering yourself by getting on a roof especially if you are uncomfortable with heights. Hire a professional to do the work for you.

While many people feel that this installation work is expensive, it is far cheaper than having to have the insulation removed from your home and new insulation along with repairs completed if the raccoons remain in your home for any length of time.

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Biggest Raccoon

December 21st, 2013 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

75 pound biggest raccoonHow big is the biggest raccoon? According to some of the research we did, the largest raccoon weighed in at 62 pounds. The one in this picture claims to be 75 pounds although it is a pet and obviously well fed. Most raccoons will weigh between 4 pounds to 30 pounds. They will weigh more in the fall and less in the spring. Obviously the area they live in, food sources, etc will determine how big they get. I am not sure I would want to contend with a 75-pound raccoon, pet, or no pet. This guy can still do a lot of damage in a home and to your belongings.  However, this guy is so big that maybe he can hardly get around.

Biggest Raccoon – How big do they get?

As we mentioned above 4 to 30 pounds seems to be about average. The largest wild raccoon was weighed in at 62 pounds. Depending on age the average seems to be between 8 and 20 pounds. The one that was recorded at 62 pounds was 55 inches in length. When you think about it that is the same size as a child or a small man, that is a pretty big raccoon. They can also be quite vicious, especially if they are cornered or they are defending their babies. Also, raccoons can contract various diseases including rabies, so if you see a raccoon that is exhibiting strange behavior, steer clear of it and call someone to trap and dispose of the animal properly.

Families of raccoons?

Raccoons will have between 2 to 5 babies and the gestation period is 65 days. Raccoons can live up to 20 years in the wild and can remember solutions to tasks for up to 3 years. This explains why they are so adept at getting into people’s houses. In the wild, their life span is much shorter and especially in suburban areas where they live around an average of 3 years due to hunting and being hit by vehicles as being the most common causes of death for raccoons. A family of raccoons can tell if a den is vacant or not and will move into a vacated den unless the homeowner does something to prevent them from being able to reenter a vacant den.

How many per square mile

The number per square mile can vary widely. The highest density is reported in Kassel in Europe which has the highest density of raccoons at 130 to 390 animals per square mile. In a city like Washington 15% of the animals sleep in the attics of occupied homes! Families of raccoons will range in as low as seven acres in urban areas with up to 4 or 5 dens per area that they will visit and/or spend the day in. They are primarily nocturnal in nature and are seldom seen during the day. They move from den to den depending on food sources and where they are at the end of the night.

While this is not an exhaustive discussion about raccoons, it is interesting to note that there are some big raccoons out there, and the largest will exist near excellent food sources with a low amount of hunting and vehicle traffic.

If you have them in your attic, get them out the right way as fast as you can to limit the damage. Read our posts about how to deal with raccoons that have got into your attic or some other part of your home. They can cause a great deal of damage and spread disease as well. Our posts discuss all of these aspects of dealing properly and humanely with raccoons.

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Raccoon Relocation

August 21st, 2013 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

Raccoon RelocationRelocating raccoons that have found their way into the attic is probably not at the top of your mind. Just look at the damage that this raccoon in the picture has already caused and we do not know what it is like in the inside the attic or even how many there are in there. Your emotions are running high and you just want to get rid of them in any way possible. There is a right answer to this question of how to relocate raccoons and many wrong answers. We will explore the right answer and some of the wrong answers.

The best way for raccoon relocation and stop them and any others in the neighborhood from taking up residence in a vacated den inside your attic is to install a one way trap door across the opening to the entrance into your attic. This way they are able to get out of your attic on their nocturnal hunt for food, but will not be able to get back inside when they return. This is by far the best way to deal with raccoons since it stops the current residents from getting back in and any others that might come along in the future. By the way you should also place heavy gauge wire mesh across any other potential openings as well to stop them as well as birds and squirrels from also gaining entrance.

Other Means of Relocating Raccoons that Do Not Work

Loud noises, mothballs, poison, shooting them, and trapping raccoons really does not work at all and you may cause other problems if you try to shoot them or poison them. You might be able to get rid of the current family of raccoons and if you are lucky they will not die inside your attic which causes a whole bunch of other problems. The primary reason these do not work is that once the den inside your attic is vacant an entirely new bunch are going to move in a few months later.

Turns out that there are many families of raccoons living in a square mile and they are all looking for a place to live. If they smell a vacant den, they can just move right in and they really do not have to do anything. It is as if they found a furnished apartment to move into. So if you get rid of the current family, another is just going to move in right away and you have all of your problems all over again.

Raccoon Relocation – More Information about Installing a One Way Trap Door

There are companies that specialize in removing raccoons. The only way to have a permanent solution is to install a one-way trap door across the entrance. Once they are gone you remove the trap door and install heavy gauge wire mesh across the opening after first completing any repairs that need to be completed.

Install wire mesh across other possible entrances as well to ensure that they cannot gain entrance from another location.

Screw nail the wire mesh to the roof or to the siding, taking care to use silicon waterproof caulking around the screws to prevent water damage.

Use heavy gauge wire mesh for all potential entrances, the main entrance, and even the one way trap door so they cannot break the wire mesh and gain entrance once again to your attic.

Raccoon Relocation – Check for Baby Raccoons

Make sure the babies, if there are any, are old enough to get out on their own. If they cannot get out and you install this one way trap door, the parents may tear your roof apart trying to rescue them. Unfortunately, you just have to wait until they are old enough and then you can install the trap door.

You may have to replace insulation or at least make repairs in your attic otherwise you leave a large mess in the attic and your home may not be insulated very well.

Be very careful going into the attic and always wear a mask across your mouth and nose to prevent any particles from being ingested through airways. These can contain a worm that once inside you can cause all kinds of health issues including death. You may want to hire professionals with the right kind of safety equipment to remove the insulation and place new insulation in your attic.

If you have raccoons in your attic, this is really the best way to deal with them: One way trap doors!

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Raccoon Pest

July 7th, 2013 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

Raccoon PestRaccoon Pest, there is just no doubt about it, yet many people cannot stand the idea of killing them even though they may cause all kinds of damage to your home. There are really two sides of the issue here. Once you are really confronted with raccoons that have moved into your home’s attic or some other area you may change your opinion. Most people just view them as cuddly looking animals that should not be harmed. In fact, animal rights people will always take the position that these animals are part of nature. They should be treated in a humane way at all times.

However, once they move into your attic and start defecating in your attic you might reconsider. They also make noise during the day and night and generally making a mess. We wonder if these same people would be as understanding. Would they revert to wanting them out in whatever manner you can use? When it becomes personal many people tend to think on more practical terms.

They just really want them gone as fast as possible and in any way possible. We really think that the animal rights people will revert. They will agree with the rest of us when they are directly affected. These raccoons can cost homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. They can even decrease the value of the home as well. If you care about your home at all, you will want these pests out as fast as possible.

How to Get Rid of Raccoon Pest Properly

Fortunately, there is an answer to this question of how to get rid of raccoons. It will please both sides of the argument and provide a long term solution as well. Basically the entrance to the den in your house is where the raccoons are living. It should be blocked by a one-way trap door. This trap door allows the raccoons to get out of your attic or den. But not back in. Raccoons usually rest during the day inside your home and come out at night.

The trap door works well since they will come out at night and not be able to return the next morning. They will have to find another location to spend their days. Which unfortunately might be your neighbors home or somewhere else nearby. But at least they are out of your home and now you can focus on repairing the damage they have caused.

Once you are sure they are out for good, the one-way trap door can be replaced with a permanent cover over the entrance. Which is usually heavy gauge chicken wire that they cannot get through. The only caution is that the babies who are born in the spring must be able to travel on their own. They need to get out through the trap door. If they cannot, there is a chance they could die in your attic. Worse than that, the parents may try to take your roof apart to rescue their babies. Which is something you definitely do not want? If there are raccoon pups in your attic, you are just going to have to wait until they are old enough to travel on their own.

Install a One Way Trap Door

Once they are out, install that one-way trap door so they all can get out of the attic. You are going to have more damage inside and mess, but this is preferable to them dieing inside your attic and the smell that would be in the attic and even into your home. Once they are all out install a permanent cover over the opening and repair all of the damage inside. You may be faced with replacing the insulation if they have really made a mess of it. While this is expensive, the loss of heat and the increased cost to heat your house is not something anyone wants to consider either.

This solution meets both the animal rights activists as well as the homeowners objectives and limits the damage that these raccoon pests can do inside your home.

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Raccoon Exterminator

January 7th, 2013 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons 7 Comments »

Raccoon ExterminatorActually, we do not support raccoon exterminators on this website, but not for the reason that you might think. Animal rights people will be saddened to learn that if we thought that exterminating them was the right solution, we would support that approach. However, raccoon extermination just does not work. Anyone who tells you that it does is just looking to pad their own pockets. Even though they get rid of one pair of raccoons, another family will be back in a few months to reoccupy the vacated den! And that is exactly what you do not want to have to happen. This raccoon in this picture is actually a young raccoon, a picture from humane animal trapping. There is no way that he could pick up an adult raccoon this way. He would have a viscous snarling biting scratching raccoon trying to get away.

The exterminator is doing one thing right in this picture. He is wearing a breathing mask. He is wearing clothing that will protect him from the feces and the microbes that can actually cause death if they are breathed into the lungs. These microbes are in the feces and are released when the feces dry out and then are disturbed launching thousands into the air. I would still worry about his hair and what will happen when he leaves the attic in this picture. He still could be exposed to microbes being in his hair and later being breathed into his lungs.

Raccoon Exterminator

How Can You Permanently Stop Raccoons from Entering Your Attic

As we said, this raccoon will be removed. It will be carried to a safe place a long way from this house. But either they will be back when they return to their natural haunts or another family will enter the den in this attic. They will take up residence in a few months, entering through the same entry point that this raccoon used.

The only way to prevent raccoons from re-entering is to place heavy gauge wire mesh over the opening. Securely screw nail this wire mesh to the roof or the side of the home, whatever is appropriate.  The same approach should be used over any other potential entrances that might be used by raccoons, squirrels, and birds to keep all animals out of your home. There is another potential problem.

Baby Raccoons

If there are young pups inside the attic or den in this case removal is complicated. They either have to be removed at the time you place the wire mesh over the opening. Or you have to wait until they are able to leave on their own. The parents will try to get back into the den. They will look for any place they can to get to their young who will be crying for their parents. They could tear another hole in your roof or siding on your home in their efforts to rescue their young.

We suggest waiting until they are old enough to travel on their own and then installing a one-way wire mesh trap door over the opening. This will allow all of the raccoons out and not back in. Once they are all out, remove the trap door and install a solid wire mesh covering over the opening so that there is no way they can ever get back into your attic. Raccoon exterminators are just not the answer because they do not provide a practical long-term solution. The raccoons will just keep coming back and you will be calling the exterminator back as well and paying him for his services.

Raccoon Exterminator in Your Neighborhood

We strongly discourage this approach, regardless of how you exterminate them. We actually could care less about the raccoons. What we care about are the potential danger to family pets and other people. Depending on what solution you use, you could be causing a major problem for someone which would make you liable for lawsuits, etc. We have even heard shots in our neighborhood at night. We suspect that someone is shooting at the raccoons which would be very hard to hit at night while they are moving. The chances of raccoon extermination, using this method are extremely dangerous. Stray bullets could hit someone or someone’s property causing a great deal of damage. We strongly discourage this approach, particularly in urban areas.

There are also bylaws that you could be contravening. They might cost you a lot of money if someone reports you. Every city and town has a variety of bylaws regarding animal rights. They have methods of dealing with these problems so check with your local government before you embark on any violent activity with regard to raccoons.

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Removal of Raccoons

October 21st, 2012 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons 1 Comment »

We decided to do a post about raccoons in urban areas and try to cover as many Removal of Raccoonstopics as we can in one post. Instead of searching through various posts, readers can browse this longer post to cover all of the topics. The focus is on removal of raccoons. We have listed the index below and will write about each of these areas to give you more detail about how to deal with raccoons in your attic and home based on real experience that we have had with our own home. This is a rather long article, however it covers a great deal of detail that you really should read if you are having raccoon problems and want to learn more about removal of raccoons.

Our Experience with Raccoons in the Attic

  • A Funny Story About Raccoons in our Attic
  • Raccoons in attic
  • Trapping Raccoons
  • Raccoon Bait
  • Removing Raccoons from home
    • Raccoon deterrents
    • What to do With Raccoons When You Catch one
    • Bylaws & Raccoons
    • How to Get Rid of Raccoons
    • Install a Raccoon Baffle
    • Removing Raccoons Safely
    • Dealing with Baby Raccoons in your Attic
  • Health Risks
    • Raccoons Scat in the attic
    • Safety concerns with raccoons
    • Raccoon Droppings and Health Risks
    • Is Breathing in Air with Raccoon Feces bad
    • Rabies and Raccoons
  • Insurance
    • Damage Caused by Raccoons
    • Raccoon Roof Damage
    • Insurance Coverage for Damage from Raccoons
    • Is Damage from Raccoons Covered by Insurance
  • What do raccoons eat?
    • Raccoons digging up Lawn
    • Wild Raccoons
  • Raccoon deterrent
  • Raccoon repellant
  • Intelligence of Raccoons
  • Raccoon extermination
  • Poisoning a Raccoon

Our Story About Removal of Raccoons

Our Experience with Raccoons in the Attic – We have always had raccoons in our neighborhood and have lived here for over 20 years, but never were they in the attic or in anyone else’s attic that we know of. One winter we could hear noises in the attic over our living room and after some investigation, we could see two adults and two young baby raccoons. We tried a lot of different things to get rid of them and finally settled on using a professional wildlife removal company. But before we get into that there is one funny story that we want to quickly tell.

A Funny Story About Raccoons in our Attic

One night I am standing on the front step when a baby raccoon came around the corner of our garage across the driveway. We both see each other at the same time and we both are surprised, to say the least. I am standing in his way of getting back into the den which is in the attic of our home. He stands on his hind legs and hissed at me and then advances! I only have my shorts on, no shoes, and the front door for some reason is jammed and I cannot open it. What do you do in a situation like that?

Well, I turned around and raised my arms and hissed back at him. He was shocked, to say the least, and turned around and ran back around the garage. I pounded on the front door to get my wife’s attention to open the door! Everyone has made fun of me each time I tell that story!

removal of raccoonsRaccoons in Attic – This is actually a serious subject. Raccoons can do a lot of damage to your home and they carry various infections that can harm humans as well. These particular raccoons climbed up the brick of our home, onto the roof, and then pushed the soffits back to get into the attic. They then set up a house, had their babies, and made this their headquarters for a few months while they raised their young. Fortunately for us, they did not do a lot of damage, however, we had a very difficult time getting rid of them until we found the right solution.

Removal of Raccoons – Trapping Raccoons

Initially, we tried loud music, then moth balls, and several other solutions that did not work. We then purchased a wild animal removal of raccoonstrap for $100, which was a humane trap so that we could remove the raccoons and let them loose in a remote area. These raccoons were very smart. Each night I would place some bait inside the trap and each night the bait would be gone, with the trap still set. Eventually, we did catch the two youngsters, but the adults were just too smart to go into the trap. We took the two youngsters into the country and let them go.

Raccoon Bait – You can use a variety of bait in the trap. Most will work in terms of attracting them but they were just too smart to actually enter the trap. We used jam, peanut butter, meat, and honey. It was all good, they like to eat it all, but would not go inside the trap. They would reach inside the trap through the wire mesh which was just large enough for them to stick their paws inside and reach the food.

Removal of Raccoons from Home

Before we talk about how we actually got rid of these raccoons we wanted to cover a few other quick topics to save you time and money.

Raccoon Deterrents – Deterrents such as loud music and noise do not scare them at all. They are used to humans and other than staying away from us are not bothered by loud noises, mothballs, etc. Don’t waste your time or money on some of the things that are advertised online. They just do not work.

What to do With Raccoons When You Catch One

If you are lucky enough to catch one, there is no use letting the raccoon loose anywhere near your home. They will just return to your home where their den is and move right back in. We dropped two young raccoons out in the country which is actually against the law in many cities and towns. If you plan to do this yourself, check the bylaws first and make sure that you take them far enough away to avoid these particular raccoons returning. Note that other raccoons living in your neighborhood will just move into the now vacant den in your attic after a few weeks. So this is really not a good solution.

Bylaws & Raccoons – Some towns and cities actually have bylaws that prohibit removing raccoons more than 2 or 3 blocks from where they were caught. This sounds crazy, but it really does not matter. There are so many raccoons living in suburbia that others will just move into the vacated den, that you might as well not bother trapping these raccoons at all. The bylaws are also written in most cases to make it illegal to poison them too. After all, do you really want a dead raccoon smelling up your attic! Or killing a family pet by accident?

How to Get Rid of Raccoons – The best way by far to get rid of raccoons is to install a heavy gauge wire mesh over the entrance to the den. Screw nail the wire mesh into the roof to hold it in place. Place a bead of silicone caulking around the screw nail to prevent any water leakage around the screw nail.

Install a Raccoon Baffle

If the raccoons are still in the attic, you will need a one-way trap door installed across the entrance to your attic where the raccoons go in and out. This way they can get out of your attic, but not back into the den. Make sure that you read the section on dealing with young baby raccoons before you attempt this.

removal of raccoonsRemoving Raccoons Safely – Using the one-way trap door is by far the best approach. Not only do you make sure that the raccoons are removed, but they also will not stink of your attic. The other major advantage is that no other raccoons can enter the attic. This is a permanent solution to keep all of the raccoons in the area out of your home. Once you are sure they are out of the attic, replace the one-way trap door with a permanent wire mesh over this entrance and any other potential area that they might be able to use. This approach also works to keep birds and squirrels out of your attic as well.

Dealing with Baby Raccoons in your Attic

Baby raccoons present a specific problem. If you install the one-way trap door across the entrance before the young raccoons are old enough to leave the den, they will be trapped inside and the adults outside. Raccoons are very family-oriented and will do just about anything to rescue their babies. They will tear your roof apart. The only solution is to wait until you are sure they are old enough to travel and then install the one-way door so they can get out but not back in.

Health Risks – Raccoons living in your attic will present a number of health risks. The longer they live in your attic, the more damage and raccoon scat or poop is left inside your attic.

Raccoons Scat the in Attic – Not only is it messy, it is also dangerous to your health. More on this topic later. Basically, consumers will need a specialized team of people to go into the attic, remove all of the insulation and raccoon scat, and then install new insulation. They must dispose of the old insulation etc following proper environmental processes.

Safety Concerns with Raccoons

Raccoons will fight back if cornered and they will defend their young. They have sharp claws and sharp teeth. Avoid cornering a raccoon and if you have one in a trap be very careful. A large adult raccoon can be very dangerous unless handled properly.

Raccoon Droppings and Health Risks – raccoon droppings in an attic, dry up, and pulverize in a hot attic. When someone goes into an attic, these particles are disturbed and will float in the air. If you are not wearing a mask and wearing protective clothing you will breathe these particles into your lungs and get them on your skin and clothes. Next thing you know they are inside the living area of your home which is a very dirty messy thing to deal with.

Is Breathing in Air with Raccoon Feces Bad – There are microbes in the feces of raccoons that can live through dry periods and in attics. If you breathe air in a place where there are dried raccoon feces, chances are you will breathe these microbes into your lungs and develop lung diseases as well as liver and even brain diseases. This can lead to death in humans if not treated. So, yes it is very bad to breathe in the air where there are raccoon feces. Take all of the precautions necessary, such as air masks and protective clothing if you are going into the attic.

Rabies and Raccoons

Raccoons also contract rabies from time to time. Keep your distance if you see a raccoon during the day or acting in an aggressive manner. They could have rabies. Keep your pets and children at a safe distance.

Insurance – We were very upset to learn that we had raccoons in our attic and even more upset to learn that our home insurance does not cover the removal of the raccoons or the damage from the raccoons. Check your insurance policy, they are all different and yours may or may not provide coverage.

Damage Caused by Raccoons – Our damage was limited to repairing the soffit, installing the one-way trap door, and cleanup the insulation. We hired a company to do the job and had to pay for it ourselves. But the damage can be much more significant.

removal of raccoonsRaccoon Roof Damage – We have seen pictures of roofs torn apart, siding ripped off homes all in an effort by the raccoon to try and get back into the den where their babies are. If this was not bad enough, the rain can then enter through this damaged area of your roof causing even more water damage. Make sure they are all out before you install a one-way trap door or a permanent solution.

 

Insurance Coverage for Damage from Raccoons

We are not covered by our insurance company and we are not sure if other companies provide this kind of coverage. Check yours out before you take any action at all.

Is Damage from Raccoons Covered by Insurance – even the roof damage was not covered by our insurance company. In some cases, they will cover the damage but not the original cause. This did not apply to our particular insurance company.

What do raccoons eat? – Urban raccoons are very versatile and will eat just about anything. They roam the woods looking for birds, frogs, fruit, etc and if they are in an urban area, garbage night presents a feast for them. We no longer put our garbage out the night before, since the raccoons in the area will tear the bags apart or tip the cans over to get at scraps of food that is placed in the garbage. They tend to do very well in our neighborhood.

removal of raccoonsRaccoons Digging up Lawn – You can quickly tell if you have grubs in your lawn when you see the lawn dug up and the grass scattered around. Raccoons and skunks consider these large white grubs which eat the roots of your grass a delicacy. Removing grubs as a source of food will preserve your lawn and deter raccoons from invading your space.

Removal of RaccoonsWild Raccoons

are very cautious around humans and you probably will seldom see them. Urban raccoons on the other hand are used to living near humans and will not run from humans unless threatened in some manner. Be careful around any raccoon you see, they can be quite dangerous.

Raccoon Deterrent – There are lots of raccoon deterrents, some useful and practical, and many that are not. For example, the best advice is to remove all potential sources of food so that they are not attracted to your home or neighborhood. Make sure your garbage is locked tight and avoid leaving foods out overnight. Block all potential entrances with heavy gauge chicken wire and keeping a dog will also help to keep most animals away.

Raccoon Repellant – repellants such as loud noises, mothballs, blood meal, and other things such as various kinds of animal urine just do not work. Don’t waste your time or money on these things.

Raccoon Intelligence

These animals are very smart and especially those that have been raised in urban areas. They are used to humans and their ways. These raccoons also have mastered many obstacles that we have put in their way. They have a lot of dexterity in their front paws and can manipulate various locks etc to get where they want to go.

Raccoon Extermination – exterminating raccoons that have invaded your space works for awhile. But then new families just move in and you have to go through all of the efforts again. Also, what do you do with the carcass, since many municipalities do not want them disposed of in the garbage? Decomposing animals smell pretty bad.

Poisoning a Raccoon – poison at the risk of endangering pets and other animals in the area. If one dies inside your attic, you have to get it out. Believe me, that is not a pleasant task in addition to the possible harmful health issues. Besides, new raccoon families will just come along and move in. Select the correct long term solution so that they are kept out of your home forever. Use a one-way trap door to get them out and keep them out.

Installation of raccoon baffles and wire gauge covering any potential openings should be included in your annual maintenance tasks for your home. For more information on home maintenance tasks, click here.

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What to do With Raccoons When You Catch One

October 7th, 2012 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons 1 Comment »

What to do With RaccoonsMany homeowners have problems with raccoons getting into their attics or outbuildings. They have trouble getting rid of them. The question asked from many of our readers is: What to do With Raccoons when you catch one is at the top of many readers’ minds. The answer is not actually that simple when you consider some of the issues and the details.

On this web site, we actually do not advocate even trying to catch them. It is just not worth the time and trouble. It really does not solve the problem. Let’s assume you catch one or more of the raccoons. You might take them several miles away into the country to release them. There are a couple of issues with this scenario.

Raccoons will Return to Your Home

If you take the captured raccoon several miles away, there is a pretty good chance that this particular raccoon will not return. You may be violating local bylaws through which in some localities state that a captured raccoon should be released only short distances from where it is captured. If you release the raccoon several miles away you are violating a local bylaw. If you release the raccoon close by, they will just return to their old den which is in your attic. What to do With Raccoons then when you have them in your home is a huge question?

Even if you ignore the bylaws, other raccoons living in the area will note that the den that was established in your attic is now vacant. It could be a month later or even a year later. Raccoons will return to your home and the vacated den. So capturing a raccoon is not the best way to deal with raccoons and what to do with raccoons is still an issue.

What to do With Raccoons to Get Rid of Them

The better solution to get rid of all raccoons on a permanent basis is to install a one-way trap door across the entrance to the den. At the same time, all other potential entrances should be covered. Use heavy gauge chicken wire to prevent re-entry to the den. The one-way trap door will allow the raccoons to get out. But not back into the den inside your home.

Before applying this solution it is also important to make sure that there are no babies in the den that are not old enough to travel. If they are stuck inside with the parents outside, the parents will literally tear your roof apart to get back inside. Once the young babies are old enough to travel on their own and can travel outside the den, it is time to apply the one-way trap door which prevents all of the raccoons from getting back inside the dean in your attic.

Permanent Solution to Deal With Raccoons

Once your sure that all of the raccoons are out, it is time to remove the one-way trap door. Apply a permanent heavy gauge wire mesh across the opening after completing any repairs that might be needed. This will keep the current family out and nay others that might discover a vacant den.

There is another major advantage of this solution in addition to being a permanent solution. You will not violate any local bylaws protecting wild animal life. You do not violate any sensitivities of people who believe in protecting animals. Animal rights activists play a huge part in getting the bylaws established. You really do not want to anger these people, even if you are not that concerned about wild animals yourself.

You may live in a neighborhood were raccoons have become a problem. But they have not attacked your house yet,. Why not arrange for heavy gauge wire to be applied now on all potential openings? The peace of mind and the money you save from the potential damage will more than pay for the cost of installing the wire mesh across all potential openings. If you do this work yourself, make sure that you also seal all holes with an outdoor sealant to avoid any water damage.

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Raccoon Removal from Your Attic

May 7th, 2012 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

If you have just learned that you have raccoons in your attic, you should know that there is a right way and a wrong way to perform raccoon removal from your attic. Raccoon Removal from Your AtticMost people are so mad that they want to shoot them or poison them on the spot. The problem with that approach is that there are a lot of issues associated with killing them in your attic. As well if the animal rights activists find out they will come after you as well. If you do nothing they are going to wreck your attic. They will destroy the insulation as well as leave raccoon scat all over the place. Can you imagine all of that raccoon poop in your attic!

How to – Raccoon Removal from Your Attic

Raccoon removal from your attic is actually pretty easy if done the right way. First you must decide if there are babies in the attic. If there are, you pretty much have to wait until they are mobile. They must be able to travel on their own with the adults. Once they are travel-ready, the recommended approach is to install a one way trap door across the opening into your attic. Using this approach, the raccoons can get out and not back in. If the babies are trapped inside your attic, the adults will literally rip your roof apart trying to rescue their babies. Raccoons are very protective of their young and both adults will work together to raise them.

This is by far the best way to deal with raccoons in your attic. Some of the reasons are:

  • No dead raccoons smelling up your attic
  • A humane approach to dealing with the problem
  • Blocking the entrance before the babies are out could mean serious damage to your roof by the adults
  • Local bylaws prevent you from taking the trapped raccoons very far away
  • Another raccoon family will just move in after the old family has been taken away unless you block the entrance.

We tried all of the usual stuff. Loud music, ammonia, bright lights, trapping, etc and none of that worked. Don’t waste your time or your money. do it the right way the first time and save yourself a lot of frustration.  None of the stuff people write about on the network except installing a one trap door. But even if you use this approach, it must be done correctly or the raccoons will do a lot of damage to your roof trying to rescue their babies if they have them in your attic.

Cleaning Up your Attic after Raccoon Removal

Hire experts, do not do this yourself. You need to avoid breathing in the dust particles into your lungs. These dust particles in the attic contain a variety of diseases and can cause you serious illness if you do not take the proper precautions.  Experts will clean up everything, remove the insulation and dispose of it properly. Next, you can install new insulation and bring it up to a standard that keeps your home warm during cold winter months. You also must ensure that the soffits are installed properly to ensure that there is sufficient air circulation into your attic.

We have a number of posts that talk about this issue in more detail as well as installing the one way trap door. Check these out before you waste your time and money trying to trap them or getting rid of them using other methods. They just do not work!

We would like to hear about your experience with raccoon removal. Any experience will help our readers deal with this frustrating issue. We will approve good comments with links as well back to your own site.

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A Funny Story About Raccoons in our Attic

February 21st, 2012 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons 2 Comments »

We have written a lot about how you should get rid of raccoons, safety in handling them and health issues related to raccoon scat. We thought it was time to write a funny story that actually happened to the writer when we had raccoons in our attic and we were trying to get rid of them.

Raccoons in our Attic – Humane Trap

I had purchased a humane trap and placed it on the roof near the entrance they Raccoons in our Atticcreated into our attic. I had placed peanut butter, jam even some meat in the trap in an effort to try to get them into the trap. They would be released in the country. Unfortunately, I was never able to capture one of them in the trap. They were just too smart and the parents obviously trained their youngsters to stay away from the entrance. They did manage to sneak their paws through the wire and get at the peanut butter without setting off the trap. Pretty amazing and pretty smart if you ask me.

Raccoons in our Attic – My funny Raccoon Story

Anyway this one evening I had just finished working outside and needed a shower. After my shower, I put on a pair of shorts and walked outside to look at the roof to see if there were any results. As I am standing on the porch looking up at the roof, a gust of wind blows the door to our home shut and it automatically locked. This should not have been a big problem until you hear what happened next.

Let me set up the picture. I am standing on our front step, with the front door locked. All I have on is a pair of shorts, no shirt and I am in my bare feet. As I am standing there a raccoon comes around the corner of the driveway and he is in a hurry. He runs halfway across the driveway towards me before he realizes that I am standing there. He needs to get past me so that he can climb the wall and get to his den which is in my attic.

Raccoons are Shocked

Imagine the raccoon’s surprise and mine when we both realize that each other is there. I have a look of shock on my face. He is shocked when he sees this human who he knows is a mortal enemy.

The raccoon’s reaction is to stand on his haunches and become as large as possible and hiss at me. This is a standard defense mode of many animals when confronted with a possible enemy and then he takes a step forward towards me and hisses again. For a moment all I can think of is that he is going to attack me and I have nothing to defend myself with. I cannot get in the door that is locked and I do not have a stick or anything to use to even throw at him. So what would you do in a situation like this?

Dealing with Wild Animals

I thought of the training videos I have seen when confronted with a bear. You do not turn and run, Instead, you put your arms up to make yourself look larger than you are and then you yell or make a loud noise. They just might back off and leave you alone. Now I know this is just a little raccoon, but what are you going to do in a split second when you have nothing to defend yourself with?

I raised my arms, stood on my tiptoes, and hissed right back at him. It was amazing. He stopped and took a second look at me as if to say what human is crazy enough to do this to him. I hissed again and waved my arms and he suddenly took off back the way he had come around the side of the house.

I rang the doorbell and have endured ridicule and teasing from my wife and friends ever since then once they have recovered from laughing so much. Imagine being afraid of a little raccoon. I once told this story at a party and had people in stitches, they were laughing so hard.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons

Anyway if you have raccoons in your attic or just want to know how to get rid of raccoons, take a look at some of our other posts that deal with this serious subject. Hope you enjoyed my story. It is a true story and it really happened the way I wrote it.

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Removing Raccoons Safely

February 7th, 2012 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

Removing Raccoons SafelyRemoving Raccoons Safely – If you have raccoons in your homes attic, there is a safe way to remove them which will not harm the raccoon and will not put you at risk either of being scratched or bitten. Of course, you might say, just hire someone to do it. However, if they do not know what they are doing, they can be hurt. They could violate local bylaws as well. Local bylaws, believe it or not, protect the raccoon. In our locality, you can release a live raccoon more than 2 blocks from where it was caught. You also cannot poison them as well.

You may ask why, since these rules seem ridiculous. Well the simple answer is that there are many raccoons in a neighborhood. Once you remove one set, another bunch will just move into the old den unless you do something to keep them permanently out of the den. So what can you do and how can you remove them safely and permanently? This is really what this web site is all about. Getting the raccoons out of your home and keeping them out forever without harming the raccoons in any way. It is a win, win for humans as well as animals.

Removing Raccoons Safely

The answer is pretty simple. All you or a company you hire needs to do is to install a one-way trap door at the entrance to the den in your attic. This way the raccoons can get out but they cannot get back in. Once you are sure they are all out, remove the one-way trap door and install heavy gauge wire mesh across the opening and no more raccoons are going to get into your home.

Now there is one thing you must be aware of and if you do not wait, you could have a lot of damage done to your home and your roof. Raccoons who have young pups in your attic will do just about anything to get back into their young, including tearing the roof apart. If the young pups are too young to travel when you install the one-way trap door, they are not getting out and the parents are going to do what they can to get back in.

While this may be frustrating to read, what is recommended is that you wait until they are old enough to travel by themselves.  When the can move around and get through the door, it is time to install this door. Once they are all out, they cannot get back in and you are clear of all raccoons as well.

This is the safest way to get rid of raccoons and avoid any scratches, bites or infections from wild raccoons. It is also safe for the raccoon as well. They are not dangerous and the young are also protected as well.

What Else Should You do?

Have the company you hire or do it yourself. But cover all potential openings with heavy gauge wire mesh so there is no chance of raccoons getting into your home again. You will have to screw nail the wire mesh into the roof. Seal each spot with waterproof outdoor sealant to avoid any potential leaks.

We have written extensively and will continue to post articles about this problem on this web site. check out various posts we have made in the past about various issues with raccoons including dealing with raccoon scat, poisons and the dangers of cleaning up after raccoons.

If you have problems with raccoons leave us a comment to let us know how you are making out and what you did to get rid of them. For more information about removing raccoons, click here.

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How to Get Rid of Raccoons

July 7th, 2011 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons 3 Comments »

How to Get Rid of RaccoonsIf you have ever had raccoons in your attic or other parts of your home then you will know just how hard it is to get rid of them. How to Get Rid of Raccoons and keep them out for good. They are pesky little creatures, intelligent and nosy, and will get into just about anywhere. They are also very loyal to their mates and especially their children or raccoon babies. This is probably the most important thing to remember if you are trying to get rid of raccoons from your home.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons – Get Rid of all food Sources

If you have garbage pails like the one in the picture, you have to get rid of them. Or place them in a location that is locked up and the raccoons cannot get into. The more food sources that are available, the more they will hang around and the healthier they will be. We only put out our garbage on the morning of garbage day to avoid providing dinner for the raccoons. If we put out the garbage the night before, there is garbage scattered all over the place since the raccoons have got into it looking for food.

Use Heavy Gauge Wire Mesh

The best way to get rid of raccoons is to either poison them or turn your house into an impenetrable fortress from a raccoon perspective. Most municipalities will prevent you from poisoning raccoons and you also risk poisoning the neighbor’s cat or dog which will not make for great relations. Municipalities have enacted bylaws against poisoning animals due to the danger of also poisoning neighborhood pets or worse local children

Placing heavy gauge wire mesh over all possible entrances will effectively deter the raccoons from entering your attic, however, there are a few steps to take to make sure you do not make the problem worse.

The wire mesh needs to be screw nailed into the roof and the joists. It must be of sufficient strong gauge that the raccoons cannot remove it.  Use a sealant that will withstand the elements to avoid any water damage from water leaking inside from around the screws.

Install a trap door

The most important part if you want to avoid serious problems is to use a one-way trap door. Place it over the entrance to the den so the raccoons can leave but not return. If they have babies you may have to wait until they are old enough to travel. This is an effective way to get rid of raccoons. However, you want to make sure that any young they have can also get out as well on their own.

The parents will literally take your roof apart trying to get back into their young if they are trapped inside. You also do not want the young to die inside. This will cause a very bad smell through out your home. In addition, it is not humane and many animal rights enthusiasts could cause you a lot of grief if they were to find out about the situation.

Replace the Trap Door

Once you are sure they are out, remove the trap door. Cover the entrance with heavy gauge wire mesh after you have repaired the entrance. This will avoid any further damage from wind, rain, or snow. Seal any other entrances or possible entrances in this manner as well.

This step will prevent the current family from returning. It will also prevent other families of raccoons from coming for a visit as well. Since raccoons can tell if a den is occupied or is vacant. You will find in the long run that this is the best way to get rid of raccoons.

Hire a Company

There are companies that provide the services discussed in this post for a nominal fee. They are professional and will do a great job. If someone is proposing to trap the raccoons, don’t waste your money, they are another family that will just come back and occupy the same den.

 

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Removing Raccoons from Your Home

March 7th, 2011 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

There are lots of raccoon deterrents on the internet that supposedly will tell you about Removing Raccoons from your home in your attic or other areas. Very few Removing Raccoons from Your Homeof them if any actually work, we have tried them and they just do not work with what we call suburban raccoons. These are raccoons who are used to living close to humans and have learned that there is no need to be afraid of us!

We cannot shoot them, since there is a danger you might hit someone next door and we cannot trap them, they are too smart or we catch something else. Also moth balls do not work at all, nor does the urine of dogs, wolves or other animals. In fact all that they do is smell up your house even more than the raccoons do. There is a way to prevent them from getting into your home and get rid of raccoons permanently.

Do not buy all of the things that are advertised on the internet or even in the hardware stores. In fact, traps are not even worthwhile investing in. We will explain some of the reasons why and also how to get rid of raccoons. First of all these raccoons are used to urban smells, loud noise, lights etc just do not work.

Lots of Raccoons in the Area

Secondly even if you catch a raccoon in a humane trap and take it 10 miles away, another family is ready to move in. There are from 20 to 50 raccoon families per square mile in urban areas. Some areas have even more than that and they are always looking for a vacated den. They can tell if there is a den close by, by the smell and if it is vacant. In fact we still have raccoons coming back every year to try to get into our place 5 years after we blocked all entrances.  So how to get rid of raccoons? The experts will tell you that first you must wait until the young ones are ready to travel outside the den. If you do not, the parents will tear your roof apart trying to get back to their young if you block the entrance.

Removing Raccoons from Your Home

Once the young ones are ready to move outside of the den, install a one way trap door with heavy gauge wire that is strong enough to block any raccoon over the entrance they are using and any other potential entrance. This is how to get rid of raccoons from your home. Once you are sure they are gone, remove the one way trap door and replace it with the same heavy gauge wire mesh.

Screw nail it into the roof and the joists so there is no way for them to tear the wire away and get through. Also block all other potential entrances with the same strong mesh wire so there is no chance for them to get in from some other entry point. This will also prevent squirrels from entering your attic as well.

Raccoons Cause a Lot of Damage and Are Dangerous After They Have Gone

Once you have figured out how to get rid of raccoons, be very careful with the repair of any raccoon damage. Especially of you are entering attic space. Breathing the feces can cause organ damage and death.

In the dry air of your attic, these feces break down. They turn into  dust and when disturbed will float in the air for you to breathe. At the very least wear a mask if you must go into the attic. Hire professionals to clean up the attic if they have been there for some time. You may have to replace the insulation. Also the air vents over the soffits if there is a lot of damage. For more information on repair for raccoons and other associated topics refer to our list of posts. Also check out our category list.

If you have had trouble getting rid of raccoons and found a better way, or want to warn our readers about proposed solutions, please leave a comment. We want to help people avoid these problems.

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Safety Concerns with Raccoons

February 7th, 2011 ernie Posted in Removing Raccoons No Comments »

If you have raccoons in your attic like us, we urge you to stop and consider for a moment some of the safety concerns with raccoons associated with these cute but Safety Concerns with Raccoonsdangerous little animals. First of all, we had a family of raccoons move into our attic in January. This was just in time to have their babies. We immediately thought that we had to get them out before they make a mess and also destroy our attic. When this happens to you, you really cannot wait to get them out of your attic fast enough.

Well guess what, the local animal removal companies suggested that we wait for several months. this was due to a number of safety issues about raccoons that we were not aware of. This was intensely frustrating for us. But after listening to them we had to agree with them and followed their advice. After doing some research on the net we found out a lot of things about raccoons. We are trying to help other people by keeping this site up to date and that is why we write about this issue.

Safety Concerns with Raccoons – Babies

Reasons to Wait to Get Rid of Raccoons

For example, if we removed the adults but not the babies, the parents would just come back. If we blocked the entrance that they had made, they would tear our roof apart trying to find a way to get back in and rescue their baby raccoons, so the best thing is to wait until the young ones are old enough to leave the den in your attic on their own. This is really important if you want to avoid damage to the roof and damage to the inside of your attic. You also do not want the young one to die inside the attic and cause your entire home to smell of dead bodies. It would be next to impossible to remove this smell and make your home ready to sell at some future point.

Next, they could also be carrying rabies. You definitely do not want to be dealing with this disease, so add this to your list of safety concerns with raccoons. If they do have rabies, be very careful around then. Avoid touching them or anything that they have dropped saliva on. You can tell if they are sick. If they are acting unusual such as being out in broad sunlight, looking for water, and are unafraid of water.

Once they are gone, you still have other safety concerns with raccoons to be careful of. Apparently they can also carry a disease that is left in their feces, which of course is in your attic. The feces will dry in the hot air of the attic and small particles will become airborne if you disturb them. Breathing this material and catching this disease can cause damage to your organs and also death so be very careful.

Making the Right Decision

When we heard about all of these safety issues related to raccoons, we decided to hire professionals. We were looking for a permanent solution to get them out and keep them out. An additional safety issue raccoons is that can you imagine catching one of the raccoons in a trap. Imagine carrying one of these snarling animals out of your attic while it is trying to claw you or bite you. They are not docile when caught. They are alarmed because they are in a trap. Raccoons are alarmed because you are separating the babies from the parents. This is not a fun situation! If the raccoon does have rabies you are sure to be scratched or bitten. Which means you must then go and get the treatment for rabies which is apparently not fun at all.

Better off to take heed of these safety issues regarding raccoons and hire a professional. One who by the way has done this a thousand times and knows exactly how to deal with the situation. They also have the proper equipment which will allow them to go into your attic and spray a deodorizer around the attic. I know it will cost money to get rid of them. But you really do not have a lot of choices once they are in your attic. Do the job right and get rid of them permanently.

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