Suburban Raccoons

Let’s just say right at the outset of this post that “how to poison a raccoon?” is the wrong question for a whole bunch of reasons! Before the animal rights groups start applauding, the reason I am taking this position is that it is just not practical. You risk poisoning too many other animals including pets from around the neighborhood. The right questions is, “how do I keep raccoons from coming back to their den, which happens to be in my attic”!

This post is really aimed at suburban dwellers who cannot fire a gun in their neighborhood. There are too many pets running around. There are also actually lots of raccoons running around looking for a new den to set up home in after the old dwellers leave. That is exactly what will happen if you kill the current set of raccoons using poison or any other method. Trapping is no good either. For example, most municipalities have bylaw’s about raccoons. It is supposed to prevent you from taking a trapped animal more than a few blocks away. Which is really useless. Even if you do take it a long way away, other raccoons will just move in.

How Not to Poison a Raccoon

So instead of talking about how to poison a raccoon, we are going to give you the best way to get them out of your attic and keep them out for good.  To begin with, if you are not handy and nervous about getting up on the roof, hire a wildlife company that specializes in dealing with animals that get into people’s homes. You want them to install a strong wire mesh across all openings were they can get into your attic. While you’re at it get them to cover any that squirrels and birds can get into as well. Once the mesh is installed there is no way for them to get inside, short of tearing your roof apart unless their young pups are locked inside.

Tips to Get Rid of Raccoons, instead of How to poison a Raccoon

So here are a couple of tips that you need to be aware of. You have to wait until the pups are old enough to travel with their parents. If you don’t the parents will try to rescue the young ones and may damage your roof. Besides, you do not want the young pups dieing up in your attic and causing a big stink.

Next, install a one-way trap door so that all of the raccoons can get out of your attic. But cannot get back in. Chances are they will be gone the first night. They will get a big surprise when they come back and find their way blocked. They will have to find another spot that is not your home!

One Way Trap Door

Once you are sure they are out, remove the one-way trap door. Cover the opening with heavy gauge wire mesh so that the entrance is permanently blocked. You may see raccoons or their tracks for a few years as they come back to investigate, but they will not get back into your home! This is so much better than finding out how to poison raccoons and killing family pets or neighbors pets. You just do not want that problem, and they might get animal cruelty, people, after you as well, which has happened to a number of people.

If you have dealt with getting rid of raccoons and have the advice to leave our readers, please leave us a comment.

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