Suburban Raccoons

Sometimes, there seem to be just too many raccoons around. They can do a lot of damage to homes and buildings. They can cause a lot of health issues for our pets. Even humans can be susceptible to raccoon roundworms. We discussed this in a previous post in case you are interested. The primary reason for raccoons appearing to grow in numbers is that there is lots of food available for them to eat. They have few or no enemies at all. Raccoons can obtain food from your neighbor’s garbage left out at night. Grubs in your lawn are another food source. Raccoons and skunks are going to be in your area for the food. Raccoon Abatement is a real problem for many consumers.

Animal rights groups may complain and even deter raccoon abatement programs when it involves killing the animals. In places where this is not a problem, trapping, shooting them, etc is acceptable. But this really does not deal with the fundamental problem. If there is lots of food around for them to eat and survive while having babies etc. The first step in any raccoon abatement program is to remove all food sources or protect them so that the raccoons cannot find food to survive on. They will have fewer babies and their numbers will decline over time to more manageable numbers. But this still does not solve the main problem of the damage that raccoons can cause to homes etc. They tend to get into attics, damaging your house and leaving feces and urine in the insulation.

Raccoon Abatement – Protect Your Home

By far the best way to protect your home is to install heavy gauge wire mesh over any potential openings. This step will ensure raccoons cannot get into your attic. If you are unsure of which areas need to be protected, there are animal pest companies who have experience in this sort of thing. They can provide guidance as to the areas you need to protect. This wire mesh will also prevent other animals such as squirrels and birds from getting into these same spaces.

If you have raccoons in your attic already, deal with it quickly before they have babies. Call the above-mentioned companies. They will recommend a one-way trap door to be installed over the opening so that the raccoons can get out but not back in. Once they are out, the trap door can be removed. A permanent heavy gauge wire mesh can be installed to keep them out on a permanent basis. If they already have babies you are going to have to wait until they have grown and can travel on their own before installing the trap door. If the babies are inside with the parents unable to reach them they may try to find another entrance and do a lot more damage!

Some homeowners will remove the babies and set them outside where the parents can find them. They cannot travel on their own so you need to make sure that as soon as the trap door is installed you make an effort to get them out to avoid further damage by the parents trying to rescue them. In addition, you do not want them to die in the attic, creating a smell that is very difficult to get rid of.

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