Why Do Raccoons Have Masks?

You might confuse a raccoon for a small pet if you come across one in your yard. While these outdoor pests may not look fierce, they can cause quite a bit of damage to your yard and can create a big mess if they get into your trash containers. One reason we tend to associate raccoons with mischief is the mask that covers most of their face.

Why Do Raccoons Have Masks?

You might think that between the destruction, theft and spreading of disease blamed on this furry animal, raccoons might wear masks to prevent being identified in a police lineup. After all, their damage could be deemed criminal activity under the eyes of the law. One theory, though, is that the black fur under the raccoon’s eyes reduces glare and enhances the nocturnal raccoon’s vision when it’s dark outside.  Another theory is that the different patterns of each animal’s mask help raccoons recognize each other. While there is no real consensus about why raccoons have masks, there is one thing we can all agree on: raccoons can become a nuisance for homeowners.

Are Raccoons Dangerous?

Raccoons have sharp teeth and claws, which they aren’t afraid to use when they feel threatened. Unfortunately, raccoons are a primary rabies carrier in the U.S., so their bites are dangerous, as well as painful. If the front end of a raccoon presents danger in the form of bites and rabies, the other side of the animal presents two other forms of danger: raccoon roundworm and Leptospirosis. In a nutshell, this critter is not man’s best friend.

What is Raccoon Roundworm?

According to Texas A&M University, raccoon roundworm, officially a parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis, is transmitted to humans through contact with raccoon feces. This is one reason you shouldn’t keep raccoons as pets. If a raccoon takes up residence in your yard and becomes infected, the parasite eggs can spread from their feces to areas around your yard. Any areas that may be infected should be carefully removed, burned, buried or sent to a landfill. Immediate removal will reduce the risk of exposing your family to the parasites.

The incubation period of raccoon ringworm is usually 1-4 weeks. Symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Liver enlargement
• Loss of coordination and muscle control
• Blindness and coma (in severe cases only)

If you think you may have been in contact with raccoon feces, it is best to see your doctor immediately to get treated for a possible infection.

What Kind of Damage Can Racoons Do?

Aside from being dangerous to human health, these masked bandits notoriously scavenge and decimate gardens. Avid gardeners know well that fences don’t work: If raccoons can’t go through a fence, they’ll tunnel under or climb over simply to pillage produce. Raccoons have an intensely competitive nature, which means they will take all you can grow and not leave a scrap for you.

Damage goes beyond theft, though. Once they get into your yard, you experience the frustration of seeing a beautifully manicured lawn rolled back like hair on a curler so raccoons can forage for grubs; from your yard, it’s only a small step toward raccoons moving to your house. These animals are notorious for setting up home inside chimneys and attics, and they become quite territorial.

Once ensconced in your home, deceptively cute raccoons can bite, gnaw, rip and tear any siding, vents, shingles, wires, water lines, curtains and furniture in their way. Between the destruction they can cause and their smell, it’s possible for a raccoon’s damage to reduce your property value by up to 10%.

How Can I Keep Raccoons Off My Property?

The best way to protect yourself and your family from the risks raccoons pose is by preventing them from entering your property in the first place. There are a few steps you can take to deter raccoons from setting up shop in and around your home:

• Seal garbage cans tight. Raccoons have opposable thumbs and can easily get into broken or loose lids.
• Bring pet food inside over night. These wily creatures will take what they can get so if you leave your pet’s food out, they’ll surely make a meal of it.
• Avoid feeding them. No matter how friendly they look, raccoons are not pets and shouldn’t be treated as such, as they will keep coming back if given food or shelter.
• Control access. Inspect your home and yard for any cracks or crevices where raccoons may be able to enter and seal them off.
• Use a trap. In extreme cases, you can consider setting up a trap. If you do decide to go this route, be sure to read the directions carefully or ask a professional to set up your trap to avoid hurting yourself.

ABC Can Keep Wildlife Out Of Your Outdoor Space

Although a picture of this masked animal may be cute at first glance, a close encounter with these fanged creatures at night is not a situation homeowners want to be in. Rather than attempting to catch these pesky creatures on your own, call in a professional who has the equipment and training to handle wildlife control. The experts at ABC Home & Commercial Services can help identify how raccoons, rodents and other types of wildlife made their way onto your property and work with you to come up with a treatment plan to ensure they are gone—for good.