Suburban Raccoons

These little guys look so cute, but the reality of a raccoon den in my attic meant that they were doing lots of damage to the insulation, to the soffits and to my roof. We tried several solutions to get rid of them all to no avail. Trapping, loud noises, moth balls etc just do not work. You need to do a couple of things right in order to get them out and keep them out. You want these baby raccoons out and you want to make sure that no other raccoons can set up home in your attic. In addition, all of this should be accomplished in a humane manner. We will cover both solutions.

Raccoon Den in my Attic Help

First if there are no babies in your attic, act quickly by installing a one way trap door over the entrance and block all other potential entrances. You want them to be able to get out and not back in. Once they are out, replace the trap door with a heavy gauge wire mesh to keep them permanently out of your attic.

In my case the raccoon den in my attic involved babies and I had no choice to wait until they could travel on their own. Once they were coming out of the den at night we employed the same one way trap door to keep them from getting back in. If they cannot get out on their own and you cannot reach them to remove them, then you just have to wait or the adults will literally tear your roof apart to rescue them causing a lot more damage. While this is frustrating, it is the best approach.

If you do decide to go into the attic to capture the babies, make sure the adults are out and also wear a protective mask to avoid breathing anything that could harm your lungs etc. Raccoon feces carry very infectious worms which can exist for a long time in your attic and can cause a lot of serious health issues. We have written other articles on this site that discuss this issue.

Good luck and follow the one way trap door approach to get rid of them permanently!

If you have raccoons in the attic and are looking for a guide to humane raccoon removal, this website can provide the guidelines you need when hiring a professional. Bottom line, don’t waste your time trying to trap them – they are too smart for that; don’t poison them – it is not humane and you risk harming other animals including pets. Avoid trying to scare them away with loud noise – it just does not work at all. Don’t block the entrance especially when they have babies – they just will tear up your roof trying to rescue their babies or escape if they are still inside your attic and don’t leave them in your attic either – they will ruin the insulation, smell up your home and do more damage. So what should you do  if raccoons are in your home.

Raccoons in the Attic – Guide To Humane Raccoon Removal

What is the right approach, that is humane and solves the long-term issue of keeping them out permanently? The first step is to make sure there are no babies in the attic. If there are baby raccoons in the attic, you are just going to have to wait until they are old enough to travel on their own.

Once they are old enough, have a professional company install a one way trap door so that they can leave the den in your attic, but cannot get back in. This is so important that we cannot stress it enough. You want them out and you want them to stay out. Plus any future roving raccoons who can smell a den will be unable to get back in as well. This is one of the main reasons that trapping or poisoning them just does not work.

Once they are out replace the one way trap door with a permanent wire mesh to block them. If you decide to do this work yourself make sure that you use caulking to plug all screw holes to avoid any water penetration into the roof. A professional will automatically do this and use the proper heavy gauge wire mesh that the raccoons cannot get through!

The gestation period for raccoons is approximately 9 weeks. The baby raccoons are born hairless and blind and are reared by the mother. Mating occurs in the winter months but can go on until June so technicians who are dealing with raccoons in your home or buildings must first determine if there are young raccoons in the den, before blocking the entrance. More on that issue in a moment.  Raccoon density of 10 – 25 raccoons per square kilometer has been observed. Raccoons will build their dens in chimneys, attics, roofs, crawl spaces, under decks and sheds as well as hollow trees.

Gestation Period for Raccoons – When to Remove Them

The bottom line the best time is before they have their young. The best way to get rid of them is to install a one-way trap door so they can get out of your attic etc. but not back into your attic. The problem gets more complex if they have young pups in the attic. Adult raccoons will literally tear your roof apart to rescue the baby raccoons who will be crying inside. On top of that, you really do not want them to die inside your attic with the corresponding smell from decaying bodies. There is another solution.

If you cannot get into the attic to catch them and remove the babies, then the only thing to do is wait until they are old enough to travel on their own. Once they get out the trap door they also cannot get back into the den inside your home. If you can remove the babies, make sure that the adults are blocked from entry. Remove the babies and place them in a box outside your home where the adults can find them. They will take them to another location where they can be safe and raised.

Most cities and towns have bylaws preventing cruelty to animals. You are best not to dispose of them in any manner other than the one above. If someone should complain, you could actually end up with a hefty fine or even go to jail depending on what you do with the babies.

If you are dealing with Raccoons in the attic or around your home, you may want to read more about these pesky animals, click here for ways to deal with them in a humane manner and also to protect yourself.

The damage to your home from raccoon’s can be significant both inside and outside your home. This picture shows the damage to a consumer’s roof from raccoons, probably because he blocked the entrance to the den inside the attic and they were trying to rescue their young pups. They will literally tear your roof apart to get to their babies and in the process cause a lot of damage. In addition, if you are unfortunate enough to have a lot of rain, damage from water penetrating the roof can make it much worse. Homeowners insurance raccoon damage is not always available and something that you probably did not think about when you signed up for insurance. In our case, there was a clause in our insurance documentation that specifically denied coverage for damage done by raccoons. Can you believe that!

Homeowners Insurance Raccoon Damage

The best defense against raccoons is to deal with the problem as soon as you suspect that they are in your attic. If you wait thinking that they will leave, you are just giving them time to settle in and to have their babies. Once they have the babies you really only have two choices. Either wait until they are old enough to travel on their own, or go into the attic yourself and remove them risking that the adults may defend them, which can be a nasty business.

Most experts agree that the best approach is to install a one-way trap door over the entrance to your attic, wait for the raccoons to leave, and then go into the attic and remove the pups. Leave them outside somewhere that the adults can see them and take them somewhere else. Once they are all out, remove the trap door and install heavy gauge wire mesh across any opening or penitential opening.

In terms of homeowners’ insurance raccoon damage, unless you have special coverage, you are probably out of luck and will need to pay for the damage and repairs yourself which if not dealt with immediately can be thousands of dollars.

For more posts about damage from raccoons, click here.

If your yard dug by animals looks like this one in the picture, you have a serious grub problem in your lawn. Raccoons and skunks can detect the grubs just under the thatch. They will dig up the lawn to get at these juicy morsels. The grubs are white, about the thickness of a women’s little finger. They are about three-quarters of an inch long. You can roll back the thatch in your lawn and you will probably see one or two. In the case of the consumer in this picture, he has a major problem with grubs. The skunks and raccoons are having a feast at night. If he does not do something his lawn will be destroyed.

Yard Dug up by Animals – What Grubs do

Grubs exist just under the thatch and will eat the tender roots of the grass plant. As a result if you have a dry patch, you may notice your lawn turning brown more quickly in some areas. This can also be caused by cinch bugs. But your yard will not be dug up by animals in this situation. As a result of the lawn not having deep roots it is easy for any animals to dig under the grass. They roll it up to get at the grubs. I have seen it and had it happen to my own lawn.

Yard Dug up by Animals – What to do About it?

The best thing is to purchase the appropriate grub treatment and spray it on your lawn. You will need to do this several times a year for a few years in order to kill all of the grubs. It does work and if you do it quickly enough, your lawn will return to its original health quite quickly. You may also need to water it a little more often. Do this until the lawn is reestablished after the grubs have disappeared.

Whatever you do, do not wait, deal with the problem quickly, otherwise you will lose your lawn to the grubs and also to the animals.

Possums or Racoons are pooping on my Roof is a big concern for many consumers. It is really a symptom of a much larger problem. The bottom line is it means that an animal, likely a raccoon has created a den in your attic. You need to take action immediately to prevent further damage to your home and a lot of expense to clean up the damage. There are right ways to do this and wrong ways to complete cleanup as well as get rid of the raccoons or possums and prevent any other animals from getting into your attic such as squirrels or birds.

Possums or Racoons are pooping on my Roof

Check out your roofline, corners and look for areas where there are potential entrances into your attic. The siding may be lifted or the soffits may be pushed up to allow entry by the raccoons. If you see this situation, then they are definitely in your attic.

Don’t bother trying to block the entrance while they are inside, use loud noise, etc. They will just either die inside the attic creating more problems or they will create another entrance. Hire a company to install a one-way trap door so they can get out and not back in. Make sure that there are no babies inside or you will have an angry parent ripping your roof apart trying to rescue them.

Once they are out, replace the trap door with heavy gauge wire mesh that will prevent them from reentering. All other potential entry points should be covered with this same wire mesh.

If there is a lot of raccoon poop or scat inside the attic, you need to get this removed by professionals following the proper process for protecting everyone’s health. Raccoon poop contains infectious worms which can cause a great deal of harm to humans including death. For more information on this topic and others browse our website for other articles on these topics.

If your asking why does a raccoon keep pooping on my roof. The answer is obvious. They are living in your attic and there is lots of food around your neighborhood. Perhaps even in your yard. The picture shows an adult raccoon and one of the raccoon babies on the roof of a home. It is just old enough to leave the den and start making its way around your roof. Of course, they are going to poop on your roof. At least they are pooping on the roof and not in your home’s attic. You need to get them out and block the entrance before there is too much damage from feces and urine in your attic. You may need to have all of the insulation removed and replaced along with any other repairs that many be needed.

Raccoons Pooping on the Roof – Install a Trap Door

By far the best way to get rid of these raccoons is to install a one way trap door over the entrance to the den in your attic. Hire a professional company to do this for you to make sure that there is no damage to your roof while at the same time stopping this family and all future families from getting into your attic.

If a company suggests trapping them, call another company. Trapping will remove the current family, but will just make the den available for another family of raccoons to move in. Also there are bylaws in may cities and towns that call for the trapped raccoons to be let go within a few blocks of where they were trapped. Of course they are just coming back to your place!

Install the one way trap door and once they are out replace the trap door with heavy gauge wire mesh over all possible entrances to prevent them from re-entering the den. Make sure you apply caulking over all of the nails to prevent water damage. Finally remove all potential food sources from your property, such as garbage bins, grubs in your lawn and anything else that might keep them in the neighborhood.

Raccoons pooping on the roof is a sure sign that you have raccoons living in your attic. Or somewhere around your home or buildings. They can create a huge mess in your homes attic and around your property. The insurance company will not pay for this sort of damage. You are on the hook if you do not react quickly. There are multiple ways to get rid of raccoons. However, there is really only one sure-fire way to get rid of them and make sure they or other raccoon families never come back.

Raccoons Pooping on the Roof

The best approach is to have a one way trap door installed so that they can get out of their den which is probably in your attic and not back in. Once you are sure they are out, replace the trap door with heavy gauge wire mesh over the opening and nail it to the roof etc. Make sure to apply caulking over the nails to prevent any possible water damage from these nail areas.

If they have babies inside, you need to get them out of the attic or wait until they are old enough to travel on their own. The parents will do much more damage trying to rescue them and you do not want dead raccoons smelling up your attic. The trap door is by far the best approach to keeping the current family of raccoons out and any others that might be in the area looking for a home.

Note that trapping the raccoons will be successful for a short term since you will remove them and take them far away, however, note that this can be against the local bylaws in your town or city. If you do not protect the entrance to the den with wire mesh as mentioned, another family is just going to move in within several months. You still need to make sure there are no babies inside.

Noise, mothballs and many other solutions just do not work. They are too used to humans living in the suburbs. Do it the right way and quickly to minimize the damage.

Poop on Roof What Animal? There can be poop on the roof from various animals.  These include birds, squirrels, mice, rats and of course raccoons. Which is what this web site is focused on. If you see poop on roof you are wondering what animal it is from. The first thing you should look at is whether they are also in your home. There are many potential entry points and you really need to block these. If there is poop on the roof, there will also be poop in your attic as well. It will only get worse unless you do something about it. The picture on the left shows raccoon poop or raccoon scat as it is called in some circles. This will wash off in the next heavy rain, but the poop inside your attic is full of germs and infectious bacteria that is harmful to humans. Mice and rats have their own set of problems and you should refer to other websites for information on these rodents.

Poop on Roof What Animal – and What to do

If you feel that there are rodents in your attic, especially a raccoon, call a professional who will assess the situation and propose a solution. The best approach is to install a one way trap door so they can get out and not back in. At the same time. he will block all other potential entrances with heavy gauge chicken wire. Once they are out, he will remove the trap door and replace it with permanent chicken wire.

Don’t waste your time and money trying to trap them and take them away. Other raccoon families will find the vacated den in your attic and set up shop. Many cities have bylaws regarding trapping and removing raccoons, poisoning etc. You do not want to risk harming your pets with poison either.

Finally, if there are babies inside your attic, you may have to wait until they are old enough to travel on their own. Otherwise, they will be trapped inside with the parents outside. The parent raccoons will do everything they can to get back in including tearing your roof and siding apart to create a new entrance. Get the babies out at the same time you install the one way trap door.

A raccoon one way trap door malfunction can occur if it is not properly installed. If the raccoons are still going in and out, then it might be time to call in the professionals. Have them install one that works and lets the raccoons out but not back in. The longer you allow them to live in your home, the more damage they are going to do.

They will damage your insulation by packing it, urinating on it and leaving feces all over the place. You can review a few of our other posts to see the damage and the mess that they leave. The pictures show it all. Our posts discuss the right way to get rid of them so they stay permanently out. There is also a proper way to dispose of the contaminated insulation. Make sure the people doing the work avoid any health risks.

Raccoon One Way Trap Door Malfunction

The trap door must open outwards and immediately close to avoid them getting in again. Raccoons are very adept with their claws. They can manipulate things almost as good as humans can. The trap door must be constructed in such away that they cannot reopen the door. This will stop them from re-entering the attic or the  interior of the building you are trying to keep them out of.

A professional company will install them properly making sure that there are no leaks in the roof caused by the screw nails used and then remove the door once all of the raccoons are out. A permanent wire mesh will be installed over the opening to keep them out. while they are at your home you can also arrange to have all other potential openings closed off as well with wire mesh to avoid any future problems. In addition they will tell you how to deal with any raccoon babies that may or may not be inside the den.

When animals are digging up your lawn at night, it can be very frustrating. Most homeowners have no idea why this happens or what to do about it. Like most things in life, there is a logical explanation about why something happens. Once you know why a solution can easily be found. As to the reason animals such as skunks and raccoons are digging up your lawn, they are simply looking for food. The food they are looking for white grubs that are fat and juicy and live off the roots of your lawn. They remain underground, just below the surface and they eat the roots which in turn will weaken the grass. If the raccoons do not ruin the lawn, the grubs will over time, particularly in dry hot periods.

In hot weather, your lawn may even turn prematurely brown, because the roots have been damaged by the grubs. In addition, since there are no roots or a very small amount of root for the lawn, it is easy to dig up the lawn and roll it back so the animals can get at the grubs. You can easily check to see if there are grubs by simply peeling back the sod and digging around a little bit to expose them.

Animals Digging up Lawn at Night – Solutions

The best way to get rid of the animals is to eliminate any food source in the vicinity of your home. In addition to the grubs get rid of any food sources such as your garbage, berries, nuts, etc that might attract animals.

The grubs are a bit more difficult. There are several solutions, but we have found that Spectracide offers the best solution for killing the grubs. Follow the instructions on the bottle. In general, you will need to spray the lawn several times in July and August. The first year will kill a high percentage of the grubs. We suggest that you spray the lawn for at least two years in a row to make sure there are no grubs to feed the local animals such as the skunks and raccoons. Your lawn will be much more healthy as a result.

Raccoons can climb brick walls of houses and office buildings! They possess the dexterity in their claws to hold on and position themselves to almost run up a wall of a home or low-rise office building. This particular raccoon overdid it somewhat by ending up on the outside of a brick wall on the fourth story of a building. An animal control officer is attempting to rescue him before he falls or gets in through an open window. The last thing you might expect is for a raccoon to come into your apartment on the fourth floor through the window, but it is definitely possible as shown in the photo on this page.

Can Raccoons Climb Brick Houses

Many homeowners may have thought they were safe from raccoons if there were no trees with overhanging branches over the roof of their home. True it does make it a little more difficult for a raccoon to get on the roof, but they definitely can climb the brick and if there is a spot where they then can get on the roof, they will do it. Sometimes they climb the brick and push the soffit on the underside of your home away and climb into your attic as well. Either way, if there is a way raccoons will find the entrance into your home’s attic. They are very smart animals with a lot of dexterity in their claws.

So what do you do if you have a raccoon or a family living in your attic? By far the best method is to install a one-way trap door across the entrance to the den so they can get out but not back in. Also, block any other potential areas as well to avoid them getting into your attic by other means. If they have babies inside your home, you are going to have to wait until they are old enough to travel on their own. If you do not wait, the parents will literally tear your roof apart trying to get into your home to rescue them and cause a lot more damage.

Hire a professional to guide you as to the best approach, but do not let them tell you any other method than the one way trap door. Your just wasting money otherwise. We have lots of posts on this site about raccoons and removing them. For more information refer to many of the other posts.

Anyone with asthma knows that triggers can be caused by many different situations. Asthma from Raccoon Feces and Pets typically can cause attacks. Particularly if there’s lots of dust on their fur or the dander that is natural to their fur. This is an asthma trigger for many people. Most people will not be in physical touch with raccoons unless they have a pet raccoon. The dust from their feces can be a trigger for asthma sufferers. Believe it or not, some people do have pet raccoons. We have several pictures of these raccoons on other posts on this site.

Raccoons can get into your attic and set up a den. They raise their pups and live in your attic without many consumers even being aware that they are there. Attics are typically very hot. The feces dry out which causes them to turn to dust when they are disturbed. The feces can be disturbed by the raccoons. Or humans going into the attic to investigate how much damage there is from the raccoons. Also cleaning the attic of all of the urine-soaked insulation and the raccoon feces will disturb the feces.

Asthma from Raccoon Feces – Going Into the Attic

If you do go into an attic where there are raccoon feces, make sure that you are wearing environmentally protective clothing and a breathing mask to avoid triggering an asthma attack if you are susceptible to asthma as well as to avoid breathing in roundworm eggs from the raccoon’s feces. These eggs are very resilient and can last a long time in dry hot conditions. Once ingested into the human body, they will hatch and the worms will migrate to the brain and into the eyes causing irreparable damage and even death.

This is far worse than an asthma attack however asthma sufferers will understand completely when we say avoid all situations where there is dust from feces and natural dust that can be in an attic. Asthma attacks can occur from people having colds, flu, exposure to pollen, exposure to dust, and other fragrances that are in the air naturally. You don’t want to make it worse by breathing in the dust from raccoon feces.

If you need information on getting rid of raccoons, trapping raccoons, or cleaning your attic there are many other posts on the site that provide information on these subjects.

The answer to this question, can raccoons in the attic cause asthma for people living in the home is “yes” for some people. To understand why we say yes. You first have to understand a little about people who have asthma or are susceptible to asthma. You also need to understand a little about raccoons. The damage they can do and what happens to their feces that are left in the attics of homes. The picture on the left is a rather dramatic result of raccoons living in an attic for quite some time. Not only are there a lot of feces, but the insulation will also be soaked with urine. It is also compacted providing virtually no insulation for the homeowner. It is actually pretty disgusting. You can read about these issues in other posts on this site, now back to the main question.

Can Raccoons in the Attic Cause Asthma

Persons who are susceptible to asthma attacks have probably learned if they have had it long enough that there are in fact all kinds of triggers. Regardless of what the trigger is, the important thing is to deal with it immediately to avoid a severe asthma attack. Take your medication and remove yourself from your surroundings to ensure that the attack is only a mild one. Triggers can be colds, the flu, dust, pollen, cosmetics, and a myriad of other smells and odors that are in the air.

In the case of raccoons in the attic, they leave feces on the insulation as shown in the picture. The attic is often very hot and dry. Which tends to fry the feces and turn them into dust particles the moment they are disturbed. This could be from a slight breeze or someone going through the attic and disturbing the feces. As long as there is no air path from the attic into your home’s living area, you should be ok. If you go into the attic and do not wear a face breathing mask, these dust particles from the feces as well as the natural dust in the attic could definitely trigger an attack if dust is one of your triggers.

Other Dangers

There are many other dangers to raccoon feces which we have discussed in other posts on this site. Raccoon worms can lie dormant for a long time in eggs. Then mature and hatch inside humans if breathed into the lungs. When cleaning an attic like the one shown in this attic, hire a professional environmental control company to remove all of the insulation. The feces and make any repairs that are needed. Do not volunteer to help them unless you wear the same protective gear. Follow the same procedures they follow.

Finally, install a one-way trap door over the entrance area so that they cannot get back in and repeat the process. More on that also on other posts on our site.

We do not like using this term, Breathing Raccoon Shit, preferring to use proper terms such as raccoon feces or raccoon scat, however in the age of search engines, you have to cater to what people are looking for and this seems to be a popular term. Regardless of what you call it, humans definitely should not breathe in the floating dust that is created from raccoon scat when it is disturbed.

In a dry attic, the scat dries out. It becomes powdery over time and then if disturbed floats easily in the air for anyone in this area and not wearing protective gear to breathe in. You would be amazed at how much dust can be disturbed and float through the air from simply walking around your attic.

Breathing Raccoon Shit – Danger for Humans

Aside from the thought of breathing in raccoon feces or breathing raccoon shit as one reader prefers to call it, and the unsanitary conditions associated with breathing this stuff. There is some real danger for humans. You want to either not go into the attic or take serious precautions to avoid becoming sick.

Raccoon feces contain roundworms by the millions. They are very hardy and can last a long time in various conditions. This includes very dry places like attics which tend to be very hot in the summer. The feces turn to powder. The eggs from the roundworms are so small they can float in the air. They can be picked up on clothing and skin as well as breathed into the lungs.

The danger is that these eggs will hatch inside of you and then travel to various parts of your body. They prefer the eyes and the brain and will settle in causing blindness and even death if not treated. There is no record of anyone being cured of this disease once it has set in.

The bottom line, protect yourself if you need to go into the attic. Wear a protective mask and thoroughly wash your clothes and body after spending time in the attic.

Many readers might wonder how it would be possible for consumers to be breathing in raccoon feces? The answer is that it is in fact possible under specific conditions and that’s why anyone dealing with raccoons in areas where humans live, need to be very careful. For example, raccoons will find a way into a homes attic and set up their den to raise their babies. In the process, they will excrete urine as well as feces and that is where the problem begins.

Breathing in Raccoon feces – Attic

If the raccoons are in the attic which is where many raccoons like to set up their dens, the attic is hot and very dry and the feces from the raccoons will dry out quickly. The feces turn to dust and anytime they are disturbed, particles will float in the air making it possible for anyone who is not wearing appropriate breathing protection to breathe these particles into their lungs. Contained in these particles are roundworms which are very tiny and can exist under very difficult conditions. Not only can they exist in very dry conditions they can exist for several years.

Once the roundworms enter the human body through the lungs or worse through the stomach because you’ve accidentally ingested roundworms. They will migrate to the eyes and into the brain. They will cause irreparable damage and sometimes even death. It is very important to wear proper protection and to dispose of the protective gear carefully. This will help to avoid contamination of your person. In fact if you have raccoons living in your attic, you really should arrange for the proper disposal of all of the insulation. The associated feces and urine that is in the insulation should also be disposed of. Use a company equipped to deal with this kind of contamination. They will wear full-body suits and breathing apparatus. They should also have specialized bags to ensure that all of the exposed insulation is properly contained.

This is a real issue and should be taken seriously. Homeowners who are dealing with raccoons in their attic or other buildings must take precautions.

This is an extreme case of damage done to an attic and the feces left in the attic by raccoons living in this persons attic for many months. Not only are there feces from raccoons, the insulation is pack down and not providing any insulation value at all. It may even be soaked with urine and must be removed before this home can be sold. It is actually an environmental hazard. Anyone cleaning this mess up must wear protective gear to avoid ingesting any dust particles which could contain microscopic round worms which are dangerous to humans.

Attic Restoration

Before you can remove this mess, the first step is to install one way trap doors to get rid of the raccoons. They will be able to get out but not back in. Once you are sure they are out hire a pest control services company to remove all of the insulation and dispose of it properly. This material must be burned to avoid any further chance of harming some one from a health perspective.

Once all of the insulation has been removed, new insulation should be installed to an R40 value to properly insulate your home. The vapor barrier should also be checked to make sure that there are no breaks which can cause moisture damage.

Attic restoration is typically not something that you want to take on yourself. You need to wear the proper protective clothing and the proper protective breathing apparatus. Otherwise there is a risk of ingesting round worms as mentioned earlier. Raccoons can certainly tolerate them. They appear to be very dangerous to humans to the point of even causing death.

Don’t go cheap on the restoration or the blocking of entrances. Once a den has been established raccoons will continue to come back to investigate. Make sure that all possible entrances are blocked.

Raccoons will have four-five dens in a neighborhood. There are several hundred in a square mile in suburban areas. They are always looking for a warm den to be safe in during the day since they are nocturnal.

For more posts about damage from raccoons, click here.

No one really wants to deal with this guy, after all he is defending his family or his den and will do what is necessary to make sure you do not get too close. Many people have been severely injured by raccoons. There is also the damage that they cause while them make a home in the attic of your home or one of your out buildings. Pets control services companies will tell you that the best way to get rid of raccoons is to prevent them from making a home in your attic in the first place. Then you will really not have to deal with damage, clean up and getting rid of them.

Pest Control Services

If you already have then use a professional company that uses a one way trap door to remove them and prevent them from entering again. A one way trap door will allow them to leave but not get back in. If they have babies, they will need to be removed and placed somewhere they can be found by the parents. If you do not remove them the raccoons will do a lot more damage trying to rescue them. In addition there is the smell as well to deal with if they should die in your attic. The pest control services companies will provide you with arecommendation regarding all potential entrances and what to do about each of them.

Raccoon Prevention

The best way to deal with raccoons in your neighborhood is to remove all potential sources of food from them. If they cannot find anything to eat and they cannot find anywhere to hole up for the day, then they will move on to another neighborhood. Don’t leave your garbage out at night. Remove all possible food sources. If you have grubs in your lawn, both skunks and raccoons are going to be coming for dinner, not to mention your grass looking pretty sickly. Kill the grubs and you will remove this food source.

Clogged gutters also provide a source of drinking water so keep them clean and clear. Bird feeders are a favorite as well as mice that might hang around to take advantage of the bird seed. Remove tree branches that overhang your roof and block all entrances to underneath your deck. They may still come around but at lease they will not remain for long.

Many consumers try a do it yourself approach to removing raccoons. If they have gotten into the attic or somewhere else in their home it can be a big problem. There certainly is no reason you cannot do this job by yourself. You can save money by not hiring a professional, however, there are lots of thing s that consumers need to know when removing raccoons. We review some of the main items that will not only protect your health, but also keep you from being arrested, and make your job easier as well. Being prepared will make sure that you get them out, they stay out and your home is not damaged further. In addition, your health will not be compromised. Health issues are serious and should be considered before trying to remove them yourself.

Removing Raccoons – Health Issues

Always wear a face mask that protects you from breathing dust particles that are stirred up when going into the attic or the den. Raccoons are infected with microscopic worms. These worms can cause lots of problems for humans even death. You really need to protect yourself with a mask and proper clothing.

They also bite and scratch, so make sure that you are also wearing protective clothing and gloves.  Adult raccoons can be quite ferocious and will defend themselves. In rare cases, they could also be infected with rabies and you do not want to risk being bitten by an infected raccoon.

Removing Raccoons – Be Aware of Local Bylaws

In many areas, cities and towns will have local bylaws designed to prevent cruelty to animals including raccoons that live in your home. You cannot kill them or mistreat them. If you trapped them with a live animal trap you cannot let them out any further than a mile away from your home. Raccoons with babies that are younger than 6 weeks must be left n place. If you remove young pups they must be placed in a box outside with water so the parents can find them and take them away. People have been arrested and charged for not following these bylaws. If you are faced with this situation you will be angry and upset. Take a moment to think the situation through and then follow the laws and do the right thing.

Removing Raccoons – Keeping them Out

By far the best way to keep raccoons out is first to install a one-way trap door over the entrance so that they get out but not back in. Once they are out to remove the trap door. Then install heavy gauge wire mesh over the entrance so that they can never get back in. Cover all other potential entrances at the same time. If you do not block the entrance, even though they have been removed another family or even the same family of raccoons will just move back in. Keep the raccoons out on a permanent basis by doing the job right in the first place. Trapping is really a waste of time and money.

You may also have to remove the insulation inside your home if they have been there for a while. The insulation will be soaked with urine and there will be lots of feces or raccoon scat lying around. Hire experts to dispose of it properly and avoid getting infected yourself.

Most 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.