Suburban Raccoons

Actually, 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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