Some people find raccoons adorable, while others think they are terrifying. Whatever you think, most of us can agree that we don’t want raccoons taking over our property. These intelligent and curious creatures can quickly become nuisances, raiding garbage bins and creating messes in our yards. They can also damage our homes and gardens, and carry rabies and leptospirosis.
Even if you find these masked, bushy-tailed creatures cute, keeping them off your property is important. Contact wildlife control specialists if you have raccoons loitering in your yard. These professionals have the tools and expertise to manage their population and determine them from your property. They can also answer other pest-related questions like, “ How many times can a skunk spray?”
Here’s What You Should Know About Raccoons
If you suspect raccoons are wreaking havoc in your yard but you can’t catch them in the act, that might be because of their sleeping habits. Are raccoons nocturnal? Yes, they are, which could be why you keep missing them.
These mammals are the most active when you’re sleeping, coming out an hour before sunset until an hour after sunrise. During the day, they rest in their ground beds, which they have plenty of. These nesting sites can be as far as a mile from each other, and raccoons rarely use the same one for two consecutive days. When the weather gets colder, they remove their winter dens until the warm months. However, they don’t hibernate and will come out to forage for food.
While raccoons are nocturnal, you might occasionally see them out and about in the daytime. Is it a cause for concern if you see these creatures walking around in broad daylight? No, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re sick with rages. Raccoons change their feeding times, especially in the spring, as they raise their young. They might also forage for food during the day in urban environments or if their nesting site was destroyed.
Whatever the reason for their daytime appearance, it’s best not to get in contact with them. Let a pest control specialist handle a raccoon problem.
Here are other raccoon characteristics, traits and habits you should know about if these pests are in your area.
Appearance
Raccoons are medium-sized animals measuring 2 to 3 feet long and weighing 15 to 30 pounds. They’re round and robust, and their bodies are covered in salt and pepper fur. The black fur around their eyes gives them their signature masked bandit look. In addition, they have black rings around their bushy tails that add to their distinct look. As for facial features, raccoons have a long, sharp snout and short, pointy ears.
Reproduction
The breeding season for raccoons is in full swing in early spring, when temperatures start to rise. Around 80% to 90% of female raccoons at least one and a half years old successfully give birth to a litter yearly. Their gestation period is 63 days, producing 3 to 6 babies per litter.
The females give birth inside a den, usually set up in a rock crevice or tree. In two months, the raccoon babies start accompanying their mom on her travels to search for food. Raccoon family units usually stay together for about a year.
Diet
Raccoons are omnivores, which means they feast on plants and animals. Usual raccoon fare includes nuts, berries, fruits, seeds, insects, fish, eggs, birds, turtles and frogs. They are not picky eaters and will even go for garbage. Their diet will change according to the seasons and availability of different food items. Unfortunately, raccoons can severely damage garden crops, particularly sweet corn and tomatoes, during the end of the growing season.
Habitat
Raccoons can live in various habitats but usually favor mature woodlands along marshes, ponds, wetlands and streams. They set up their dens in tree hollows, ground burrows, brush piles and other cozy nooks they can find. In urban environments, they use different parts of our homes as nesting sites, including attics, chimneys and the hollow spots underneath porches. As adaptable creatures, raccoons have no problem living close to human communities, even if it’s in the city.
Threats
While not all raccoons have rabies, they are a major carrier of the virus in the US Here are some signs that a raccoon has rabies:
- Disorientation or confusion
- Leg paralysis
- Difficulty walking
- Wet and tangled fur
- Unprovoked aggression
- Loud and unusual noises
- Watery eyes
- Foaming at the mouth
Aside from rabies, raccoons can carry other harmful diseases that are transmittable to humans. That includes raccoon roundworm and leptospirosis. These invasive creatures can also cause damage to your home. They are known to have ripped off boards and shingles to access attics, intending to den in them. Because of these potential threats, homeowners should not ignore a raccoon problem.
If you notice raccoons in your yard, don’t hesitate to contact wildlife control specialists. They will put measures in place to manage their population. These professionals can also address other pest-related questions like, “ Can skunks climb? ”
Will a Porch Light Keep Raccoons Away?
If you wake up to footprints around your garden and your garbage scattered everywhere, raccoons might be the culprit. However, it can be hard to confirm your suspicions because they’re nocturnal and come out at night. Unless you don’t mind staying up to try to scare these creatures away, it’s better to have measures in place to deter them.
Will keeping the porch light on do the trick? While it can temporarily scare raccoons, these intelligent creatures adapt to their surroundings quickly and might soon learn that the porch light is nothing to be frightened of. Unfortunately, it’s not a comprehensive enough solution to deter raccoons. If anything, it will just drive up your utility bills.
Here are some methods that can be more effective than keeping your porch lights on.
Exclusion
Exclusion is one of the top ways to keep pesky raccoons away. Unfortunately, fences aren’t helpful, as raccoons can easily climb or jump over them. To protect your lawn from these creatures, you must lay something above the ground to cover it. Chicken wire, bird netting or hardware cloth are some options that can help keep your lawn in pristine condition.
Scent Repellents
If you don’t want raccoons wandering into your property, try applying scent repellents to the perimeter of your home. One method is to spray scent repellents on your lawn to mask the smell of worms, grubs and other insects. That way, raccoons will have no business digging through your lawn and looking for food.
Professional Wildlife Control
Raccoons are intelligent and determined creatures that can easily overcome the deterrents homeowners set up against them. If your efforts to keep these creatures away have failed, it’s time to let wildlife control specialists take over. These professionals will assess the situation and provide the most effective solution to your raccoon problem.
What Do Raccoons Hate the Most?
Raccoons will eat just about anything, including garbage. While they are not picky with their food, their noses are more discerning. Some scents raccoons hate the most include vinegar, black pepper and cayenne pepper. They are also not a fan of loud noises and plastic. However, these things aren’t enough to keep raccoons away from your property permanently.
You can try trimming overhanging tree branches to deny raccoons access to your roof and close off chimneys with a heavy metal screen. Also, ensure your garbage bins are tightly closed to keep raccoons from foraging food scraps.
Still, the most effective way to deter raccoons is by getting the help of professionals. Pest control specialists can manage your lawn’s grub and insect population, reducing raccoon food sources.
Leave Your Problems to the Pros
Raccoons are smarter than we think. While they can outsmart homeowners, they are no match for the pros. Contact wildlife control specialists if raccoons are invading your space and stressing you out. These professionals know how to keep raccoons at bay and restore the peace in your home. They can also answer puzzling pest questions like, “ Do opossums hibernate?”
ABC Can Handle Raccoon Problem
It’s not a good idea for homeowners to try to handle a raccoon problem on their own. For effective raccoon removal and prevention, turn to the wildlife control experts. Homeowners trust the team at ABC Home & Commercial Services to remove raccoons and take the necessary steps to prevent future infestations.
