Raccoons can be a nuisance pest, especially when they get into the attic or walls of homes. They can cause extensive damage and also carry fleas, roundworm, rabies, and disease.
Raccoons are omnivores and their most common food sources are birdseed, garbage and other human trash. They have very dexterous hands, so make sure all your trash containers have secure lids. Contact Raccoon Removal Texas for professional help.
Raccoons living in attics are not only a nuisance, they can cause significant damage that threatens your safety and the integrity of your home. They rip apart vents, soffits and fascia and tear down shingles to gain access to the attic. Once inside, they contaminate insulation and wires with their urine and feces. In addition, they leave behind droppings that contain harmful parasites.
Raccoon removal from an attic is best done by a wildlife control specialist. They can use one-way doors to allow the raccoons to exit while preventing them from returning. This method is humane, reduces stress for the animals, and avoids direct confrontation. Infrared cameras can also be used to spot raccoons in attics without disturbing them or breaking their habitats.
Once a raccoon is excluded from an attic, it will need to find another place to live. This is why it is important to take steps to prevent raccoons from entering in the first place. Make sure to cover chimneys with commercial caps, secure sheds and porches, and trim back overhanging branches that could provide a hiding place or entry point.
If you do see a raccoon in your attic, don’t attempt to trap it. It may have young kits that need its mother, and it is better to let the mother remove her babies. This can be difficult to do, but if you don’t, the kits will cry for their mother and create a chirping sound that is hard to ignore.
It is also a good idea to install a one-way door over the main entry point of your attic. Then, monitor the area to make sure that all of the raccoons have left. Once you are confident that the raccoons have moved out, you can seal the opening and repair any damage that was caused by the raccoons. It’s also a good idea to remove any food sources that may attract raccoons, such as accessible garbage cans and bird feeders. Finally, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your property for signs of raccoon activity, and call a wildlife control professional if you see them.
Trapping
Raccoons are notorious scavengers and can cause untold damage to homes, gardens, and garbage containers. They also tend to tear up shingles, roofs, and attic vents, leaving behind soiled insulation and other problems that can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Preventing raccoons from entering the property is the best course of action. Keeping the yard free of food and shelter items can help, as can trimming bushes and other climbable items that raccoons may use to access the roof and attic. In addition, it is important to keep garbage cans securely stored or caged to prevent raccoons from gaining access and upending the containers.
It is possible to trap raccoons on the property by setting caged traps with bait such as fruit or chicken scraps. Be sure to wear gloves when handling a trap to reduce the risk of contamination or self-inflicted injury, and always follow your state’s laws on trapping and dealing with wildlife. It is also recommended that a cage trap be covered or sealed to prevent the raccoons from escaping or re-entering the property.
The use of body-gripping traps can be effective for raccoon control. However, these traps require considerable skill to set and must be used in areas where there is minimal or no human contact. A cage-trapped raccoon will reach for everything it can see, including shingles, grass, and other materials on and around the trap. For this reason, cage traps should be covered or enclosed in wood boards to prevent a raccoon from damaging the area and itself. The use of a box trap with a wire-mesh cover is also an option for more sensitive situations.
One of the most common errors people make when trying to trap raccoons is waiting for the raccoon to leave before sealing the entry point. This often backfires, as the raccoon is likely to claw or chew its way through even small gaps and cracks to escape.
A professional Rodent and Wildlife Exclusion Specialist can use 16-gauge wire mesh, metal flashing, or other professional methods to effectively seal raccoon entry points. The company will also be able to repair and sanitize the property.
Cleanup
Raccoons are known to scavenge for food and raid garbage cans, chicken coops and other structures. They can also rip apart attics and roof shingles. They can cause extensive damage and often leave behind soiled insulation, urine and feces. Raccoons carry disease and can transmit parasites. Their feces contain harmful bacteria.
Raccoons may live in a variety of environments, including forests, fields, urban areas and suburban neighborhoods. They can also find shelter in abandoned houses, barns, attics and sheds. The best way to prevent raccoons from gaining access to your home is to keep it well-maintained, clean and free of potential hiding spots.
The use of a raccoon deterrent in the yard can also help. A well-placed deterrent can help keep raccoons away from gardens, chicken coops and trash receptacles. Trimming tree limbs can help prevent raccoons from climbing up into the roof and attic, as can keeping the area around sheds, coops and other structures fenced in.
A professional wildlife control specialist can handle raccoon removal safely and humanely. They understand raccoon habits and behavior, and have the experience and expertise to resolve the problem quickly and permanently. They also know the legalities of dealing with wildlife, so that homeowners can be confident they are following all local laws and regulations. They will perform a thorough inspection to determine the location and extent of the raccoon infestation and what damage they have caused. They will then create a game plan to eradicate the animals and repair any damages.
Prevention
Raccoons cause damage by chewing and clawing their way through insulation. When this happens, it’s important to replace damaged insulation and sanitize the area. Proper cleanup can prevent lingering odors, parasites and diseases that are spread by raccoon feces and urine. This step is often skipped, but if left unattended, it can lead to health and structural problems in the long run.
While some do-it-yourself methods may seem appealing, they’re often ineffective or even worse than the problem itself. For example, pruning tree branches that touch your roof can make it harder for raccoons to access the roof and get into the attic. However, this is a drastic measure, especially since healthy trees offer numerous benefits to your property, including shade, improved air quality and beauty. Furthermore, raccoons are skilled climbers and can find other ways to reach your roof. Cutting down entire trees is also an extreme solution, as it removes vital wildlife habitat and can impact your property’s value.
The most effective and humane method to remove raccoons from your home is through prevention. There are many ways to limit their access to food, water and shelter around your house to make your property less appealing. Ensure garbage cans have tightly fitting lids and are wired, weighted down or clamped to prevent raccoons from upending them. Move bird feeders away from your house or use tall, thin poles with baffles to keep raccoons from climbing. Add fencing around gardens and secure compost bins to stop raccoons from digging in them. Use granular repellents to create barriers for raccoons in particular areas of your yard.
Ultimately, the best approach to raccoon removal is to call a professional wildlife removal specialist from the beginning. This will ensure that your raccoon problem is handled quickly and efficiently, while complying with all state and local laws. A professional will have the equipment to trap and humanely relocate raccoons, as well as the expertise to seal entry points, install barriers and prevent future raccoon infestations. They’ll also be able to address any other damages caused by raccoons that aren’t addressed by other services, such as damage repair and sanitization.