Suburban Raccoons

If you are having problems with raccoon damage in your yard, your outbuildings or worse your attic, there is a time to deal with them and a time to let them alone. Damage caused by raccoons can be significant. Since we are talking about raccoons that live in suburbia, you are limited by local conditions and bylaws. They cover how you can get rid of these animals. They are very smart and they are used to dealing with humans. You need to be smarter than they are if you are going to get rid of them. Once you do you need to make repairs to your home that will not be torn apart again.

Damage Caused by Raccoons – Adults

Raccoons usually have their young in the spring. However, in some climates, they may have several batches of young raccoons during the year. You need to find out if they have any young babies with them in their den. Before you can do anything, these babies must be old enough to travel on their own.

Raccoons with young pups are very protective. They have been known to tear a roof apart to get back into their den to protect their young ones. The damage the raccoons cause to the roof can let water in. When water gets into your home it can really damage your home and can cost thousands of dollars.

Most experts will recommend that you wait till the young ones are old enough to leave the den. Then you can take steps to keep them out to avoid damage to your roof caused by adult raccoons.

Once The Baby Raccoons Are Old Enough to Travel On Their Own

Once you are sure they are gone or if the young are old enough install a one-way trap over their entrance so they can get out but not back in. This is by far the best way to get rid of them and avoid further damage from raccoons trying to reenter. They will not damage your roof unless they are trying to get back to their young.

There are just so many raccoons in suburban areas and they will find the raccoon den in your home every time. In fact, they still come back to our home trying to get in even with the wire mesh over the entrance. There is really no use in trying to trap them and take them some distance away.  More families will come later to occupy the vacated den unless you block the entrance.

Once they are gone, remove the one-way trap door and use strong heavy gauge wire mesh to cover all possible entrances, screw-nailing all of the wire mesh down. Take care to properly seal any holes you need to put into your roof to avoid water leakage. Use silicon caulk suitable for cold and hot weather.

Even if there are areas where they have not entered, cover these with wire mesh as well. This will also keep birds and squirrels from getting into where they are not supposed to be. Next, you will have to deal with any raccoon damage they have caused inside and arrange for repairs caused by the raccoons to be completed.

Repairs to the Damage

Be very careful with the raccoon damage and entering attic space. Breathing the dried particles from feces as they float in the air can cause organ damage and death. In the dry air of your attic, these feces break down, turn to dust and when disturbed will float in the air for you to breathe.

Hire professionals to clean up the attic if they have been there for some time. They will have the proper equipment to protect them. You may have to replace the insulation and the air vents over the soffits if there is a lot of raccoon damage, especially if the raccoons have been there for a long time. For more information on raccoon damage repair, safety issues, and other associated topics visit our site map.

If you have had experience with raccoons in this manner and would like to share your story, feel free to leave a comment on this post. for more information about damage caused by raccoons, click here.

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