Known for their distinctive black masks, bushy tail, and agile climbing skills, raccoons are one of the most common pests you might encounter in your home or property.
They may not be similar to bed bugs, termites, or cockroaches, but the nightmare they can cause to your home and property is just as bad.
It is strongly advised to hire a professional to take care of your raccoon problem. However, if you’re short on budget and a $500 to $5,000 fee to get rid of this problem might be too much for you, there are a few things you can try on your own.
The Dangers of Having Raccoons on Your Property
Should you be worried about raccoons in your home or property? Yes, you should be. Here are just a few of the many risks that you may face if these pests are left unchecked:
Disease Carrying Animals
If there’s one thing that you should be wary of when dealing with raccoons, it’s the risk of transmission of dangerous diseases. Raccoons are known carriers of a number of serious illnesses, including rabies and leptospirosis.
Rabies is a deadly virus that can be transmitted through bites or scratches, while leptospirosis is an infection caused by bacteria that can affect the kidneys and liver.
For those with animals or young children in their homes, this is an especially serious risk that you should take seriously.
Their urine and feces can also be sources of bacterial infections and parasites, such as salmonella and raccoon roundworms.
Property Damage and Accumulation of Trash
Aside from the health risks, raccoons can also cause a lot of damage to your property by tearing up insulation, gnawing on electrical wires, digging holes in your yard, and building nests in your walls.
They burrow in attics, under decks, and other secluded areas to give birth to their young.
Additionally, they are also notorious for accumulating trash and other unwanted items, which can quickly turn your property into a messy and unhygienic place to live in.
Messy Flower Beds and Garden
Raccoons are naturally destructive animals, and they have no qualms about digging up your carefully tended flower beds or gardens to look for insects. They can also destroy the plants themselves by eating them or trampling on them in their search for food.
How would you feel if you spent hours working on your garden, only to have it completely destroyed by a raccoon in just minutes?
Raccoons Pest Control Tips
While their destructive behavior may be enough to make your stomach churn, the good news is that there are steps you can take to keep these pests out of your home and away from your property.
Understand the Behavior and Habits of Raccoons
Pest control for raccoons starts with understanding their behavior and habits so that you can better anticipate where they might be nesting or foraging.
Look for signs of raccoon activity in your homes, such as nests made out of leaves and twigs, holes in the roof or walls, and chewed-up wood.
An initial inspection should reveal a lot about the extent of damage and risk posed by these pests.
Focus on Keeping Raccoons Off Your Attic or Basement
It’s true – we don’t want these wildlife animals, rather pests, to be in our garden. However, we don’t want them to be in our attic or basement even more. Once raccoons find a way into your attic or basement, getting them out is as difficult as ever.
Part of a raccoon’s behavior is they go indoors, looking for a nesting place. There are higher chances that these pests will turn your basement or attic into a latrine.
If possible, make your attic or basement inaccessible to raccoons by installing a chimney cap, sealing holes and gaps on the roof, and blocking off any entry points with wire mesh.
By nature, raccoons are solitary animals. They like to roam alone, and they don’t like to be disturbed. However, when raccoons nest and give birth, the accumulation of their feces and urine can be a significant health hazard.
Stop Feeding the Animals
This may be a no-brainer; however, if you’re trying to keep raccoons away from your property, make sure that you don’t leave pet food, bird feeders, or other sources of food out in your yard.
Not only you’re attracting and feeding raccoons, but you’re also attracting unwanted wildlife to your property. This can lead to aggressive behavior when they compete for resources with your pets.
Just like you won’t leave pet food and bowls outside your home, ensure that your garbage bin is sealed off properly. Ensure that your trash cans are placed in a rack, standing on solid ground. This way, raccoons can’t knock them over to get food.
Use Motion Sensory Lights – To Frighten Them
Although the installation of motion sensor lights won’t get rid of your problem for good, this is enough to keep them away from your property. Raccoons can get easily frightened of the light, and these wildlife animals may run away from your property as soon as the lights turn on.
Give Them a Shocking Experience
If you don’t mind a more aggressive approach, you can try using a live trap or an electric fence to ensure they won’t be able to come back. Although painful, it is a harmless way to keep them away.
The electricity coming from the fence is enough to give them a jolting experience, yet, they’ll be able to walk (or run away) unharmed.
For some property owners with pets, it’s advised to take extra precautions. Make sure that your pets can’t reach the fence, preventing them from getting shocked.
Dogs as Raccoon Deterrents – Not a Good Idea
One of the most common pest control for raccoons we see out there is to ensure there’s a guard dog in the yard. This is probably one of the worst ideas you can have.
Yes – a dog can catch and kill a raccoon, but the chances of a raccoon doing the same thing to your dog are equally the same.
Raccoons Pest Control Professionals
As you can see, the tips mentioned above may work by ensuring that raccoons won’t be able to get anywhere near your property. Some simple measures can go a long way in keeping raccoons out of your attic or basement.
However, if you don’t have the time or you’re lost on what you should do first, here’s where the professionals come in.
In a nutshell, professional pest control companies may charge anywhere between 500 to 5k bucks for this service, depending on the scale of your problem.
The difference with a professionally dealt pest control solution is that it takes care of the problem for good. Not only will they seal off your attic and basement, scare off the raccoons, and prevent them from coming back – they’ll also sanitize any mess that has been caused by the pests.
Raccoon urine and feces can cause multitudes of health hazards, and professionals know just how to take care of these issues. So if you’re struggling with a raccoon infestation in your home, it’s definitely worth considering professional pest control services. With their expertise and experience, they’ll be able to help you get rid of your pest problem for good!
Final Thoughts
A swift response to a raccoon pest problem is essential to keep your property and family safe. Nesting problems, urine, and feces can pose serious health risks to you and your loved ones, so act quickly before it’s too late.
With some simple precautions like sealing off food sources and using motion-sensory lights, you’ll be able to keep raccoons at bay while ensuring the well-being of your family. But if things get out of hand, don’t hesitate to reach out to professional pest control services. With their expertise and experience, they’ll be able to help you get rid of your pest problem in a timely manner.
