Raccoons: Identification, Prevention, and Control

Raccoons, with their distinctive masked faces and ringed tails, are a common sight in many urban and suburban areas. While they may appear cute and harmless, these intelligent creatures can pose significant challenges for homeowners. This comprehensive guide will help you understand raccoons better, learn how to prevent them from becoming a nuisance, and know when it's time to call in professional help.

The Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. These nocturnal creatures are easily recognizable by their distinctive features:

• Size: Adult raccoons typically measure 16-28 inches in body length, with a bushy tail adding another 8-16 inches. They usually weigh between 10-30 pounds, with males being larger than females.
• Appearance: Raccoons have a stocky build with a grayish-brown coat. Their most recognizable features are the black "mask" across their eyes and their ringed tail.
• Paws: Raccoons have highly dexterous front paws with five toes each, which they use much like human hands.
• Lifespan: In the wild, raccoons typically live 2-3 years, though they can live up to 20 years in captivity.

Understanding the raccoon life cycle is crucial for effective pest management:

• Mating: Raccoons typically mate in late winter to early spring (January to March).
• Gestation: The gestation period lasts about 63 days.
• Birth: Female raccoons, called sows, give birth to 3-5 kits in April or May.
• Development: Kits are born blind and helpless, opening their eyes at about 3 weeks old. They start exploring outside the den at 6-8 weeks but stay with their mother for several months.
• Independence: Young raccoons usually become independent by fall, though some may den with their mother through winter.

Raccoons are highly adaptable animals, capable of thriving in various environments:

• Natural habitats: Wooded areas near water sources, including forests, marshes, and prairie lands.
• Urban habitats: Parks, residential areas, and even busy city centers.
• Den sites: Tree hollows, rock crevices, abandoned burrows, attics, chimneys, and other secluded spaces in human structures.
• Activity: Primarily nocturnal, raccoons are most active at night and during twilight hours.
• Diet: Omnivorous, eating fruits, nuts, insects, small animals, and human food waste.

Prevention is key when it comes to raccoon control. Here are some effective strategies to keep raccoons away from your property:

Secure Your Trash

• Use sturdy, animal-proof garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
• Secure lids with bungee cords or weights.
• Store garbage cans in a garage or shed until collection day.
• Clean up any spills or overflow immediately.

Remove Food Sources

• Don't leave pet food outside, especially overnight.
• Clean up fallen fruit from trees.
• Secure compost bins.
• Clean your grill after use.

Block Entry Points

• Inspect your house for potential entry points and seal them.
• Use chimney caps to prevent raccoons from entering through the chimney.
• Ensure that attic vents are securely covered.
• Trim tree branches that provide easy access to your roof.

Use Deterrents

• Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can startle raccoons.
• Use ammonia-soaked rags near trash areas (replace regularly).
• Install electric fencing around gardens or koi ponds.

Maintain Your Yard

• Keep your lawn mowed and bushes trimmed.
• Remove brush piles and other potential hiding spots.
• Consider removing water features if raccoons are a persistent problem.

Understanding raccoon behavior can help you better prevent and address potential issues:

Common Behaviors

• Nocturnality: Raccoons are primarily active at night, which is when they typically search for food and water.
• Intelligence: These animals are highly intelligent and have excellent problem-solving skills, making them adept at overcoming obstacles to food sources.
• Dexterity: Their nimble paws allow them to open latches, unscrew jars, and manipulate various objects.
• Adaptability: Raccoons can thrive in various environments and quickly adapt to changes in their habitat.
• Social behavior: While often solitary, raccoons may form loose social groups, particularly in urban areas with abundant food sources.

Potential Risks

• Property Damage: Tearing up lawns, damaging roofs, chimneys, and attics, destroying gardens, and tipping over garbage.
• Health Risks: Rabies, roundworm, leptospirosis, and giardia.
• Pet Safety: Raccoons may attack small pets and transmit diseases through bites, scratches, or waste exposure.

While prevention methods can be effective, sometimes professional intervention is necessary. Here are situations when you should consider calling a licensed pest control service like Arrest A Pest:

• Persistent problems despite prevention efforts.
• Home invasion suspected in attic, chimney, or other parts of your home.
• Significant increase in raccoon activity.
• Raccoons showing aggressive behavior or disease concerns.
• Significant property damage.
• Legal restrictions on trapping and relocating raccoons yourself.

Professional pest control services have the expertise, tools, and legal permissions to handle raccoon problems safely and effectively. At Arrest A Pest, we offer personalized plans to address your specific raccoon issues. Our trained professionals will assess the situation, implement appropriate control measures, and provide advice on preventing future problems.

At Arrest A Pest, we understand the challenges that raccoons can present. Our comprehensive approach to raccoon control includes:

• Inspection: Thoroughly inspecting your property to identify entry points, den sites, and attractants.
• Customized Plan: Developing a personalized plan to address your specific raccoon problem.
• Humane Removal: Using safe, humane methods to remove raccoons from your property.
• Exclusion: Sealing entry points to prevent future raccoon intrusions.
• Sanitation: Cleaning and decontaminating areas affected by raccoon activity.
• Prevention: Providing advice and implementing measures to make your property less attractive to raccoons.
• Follow-up: Offering ongoing monitoring and support to ensure the problem is fully resolved.

Our team is available from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with additional hours available by request. We pride ourselves on providing professional, courteous service consistently.

Raccoons, while fascinating creatures, can become a significant nuisance when they invade human spaces. By understanding their behavior, implementing prevention strategies, and knowing when to call for professional help, you can effectively manage raccoon problems and protect your property and health.

Remember, while it's important to address raccoon issues, it's equally crucial to do so humanely and in compliance with local wildlife laws. If you're facing a raccoon problem that's beyond your control, don't hesitate to contact Arrest A Pest. Our expert team is ready to provide the personalized, effective solution you need to reclaim your space from these masked bandits.