Raccoons
How to identify Raccoons
Well adapted to life in both urban and suburban communities, raccoons can be found throughout Southern Canada. The pests are omnivorous and easily recognized for their bushy tails and distinctive mask-like markings on their faces. When they take up residence under porches, within abandoned buildings, and in barns, raccoons cause property damage and leave humans, pets, and livestock at an increased risk of disease contraction.
Raccoon Sounds
Raccoons use over 200 sounds for communication and are capable of emitting a wide range of noises depending on various factors. The pests vocalize excitement in the form of screeching, chittering, and chirping, while warnings are issued using grunts, growls, and snarls. Some of the more unusual raccoon sounds include whistling and clicking of the teeth. At night, these pests may emit screams capable of waking up homeowners and frightening children.
Signs of Infestation
When raccoon infestations are present in buildings, the pests tend to make a lot of noise. House residents may hear scratching, rustling, and squeaking, especially during evening hours. Raccoons also set up latrines near their dens, which is where they deposit their urine and excrement. As such, foul odours should alert individuals to the presence of the pest. Finally, tracks and scratch marks around yards may indicate raccoon infestations.
Raccoon Droppings
Since raccoons often leave their feces in large communal piles, called latrines, cleaning up after these pests can become an ordeal. Homeowners often find raccoon latrines on roofs, decks, attics, haylofts, woodpiles, and other flat, raised areas. To determine whether piles of feces come from raccoons, check for dark, tubular droppings about the diameter of a nickel. If droppings don’t match this description, other latrine-building pests such as badgers may be to blame.
Prevention & Removal of Raccoon Droppings
Discouraging raccoons from living near homes is the best way to escape the risk of roundworm infection. Avoid attracting raccoons in the first place by using tight-sealing garbage bins and bringing outdoor pet food inside overnight.
Raccoon Trapping & Control
Most people love wildlife until it becomes a problem where they live or a disruption in their business. And unfortunately, as cute as raccoons are, in Louisiana they are one of the most common pests we are called out to manage. Raccoons take advantage of shelter in attics as well as raised homes or buildings, and will scavenge through your garbage or even raid your pets’ food on a regular basis. Raccoons are also known as major carriers of rabies, so they can be a serious danger to both pets and people.
Raccoons as a nuisance
Unfortunately, raccoons have adapted well to living in close contact with humans. They’ve learned to where to find food and shelter and remain major problems on roads throughout Louisiana. In addition to the nuisance factor, raccoons can also cause serious problems such as damage to your home or business. In fact, the commercial removal of pests such as raccoons from major industrial businesses and sites is an important service offered by DIAL ONE Pest Control.
OFFERING HUMANE RACCOON REMOVAL
If you haven’t experienced a raccoon infestation, and by extension, those poisonous raccoon feces, you’re lucky. And there’s perhaps no better time to book raccoon removal to protect your home. In short, prevention is the best form of humane wildlife control. Choose this method rather than ineffective raccoon pest control that involves bait traps, raccoon repellent, or raccoon cages
RACCOONS IN THE ATTIC? CHOOSE HUMANE WILDLIFE REMOVAL WITH INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Our integrated pest management devises unique raccoon deterrent methods for different forms of raccoon control. For residential or commercial raccoon infestations, we mix and match a variety of pest control techniques. This way, we create custom solutions that are safe and effective to get rid of raccoons.
We use inspection, monitoring, exclusion, and trapping. It’s true, even pest control companies must adhere to minimizing pesticide usage and maximizing humane wildlife removal. Staying aware of how our humane wildlife control services affect not only our customers, but the ecosystem, is essential. After all, we want to create a safe environment for everyone – besides pests!
Raccoons
What are Raccoons?
Raccoons, also nicknamed “coons” for short, are mammals that are rarely seen during the day because of their nocturnal habits. Raccoons are found throughout the United States but are more common in the wooded eastern portions of the country than in the more arid western plains. Continue reading if you want additional raccoon facts.
What Do Raccoons Look Like?
Raccoons are mid-sized animals that are about 2-3 feet long. Their bodies are stocky, round and covered in salt-and-pepper colored fur. Raccoons are known best for the “black mask” of fur around their eyes, also known as a “bandit mask,” and black rings around their furry tails.
Raccoons and Rabies
While not all raccoons have rabies, raccoons in general are major hosts of rabies in the U.S., especially in the eastern part of the country where their populations are increasing. Just because a raccoon is active during the daytime, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s carrying rabies. However, there are some indicators that a raccoon could be infected with the rabies virus. Key symptoms of a rabid raccoon include confusion and disorientation, leg paralysis or difficulty walking, wet and tangled hair, significant aggression, and production of very loud, unusual noises. Rabid raccoons may also foam at the mouth and have watery eyes.
Signs of an Infestation
The key signs of a raccoon infestation are both visual and audible. Damage to a home’s insulation, wood, shingles, electrical wiring, walls or other parts of the structure is a telltale sign that a raccoon has taken up residence inside. Another indication of a raccoon infestation is the presence of droppings, urine stains, or built-up materials from creating a nest.
Additionally, raccoons often raid, and can make a mess of, contents in garbage cans while they are in search of food. If a homeowner notices trash dispersed on the property, raccoons could be to blame. Raccoon paw prints may also be visible in the yard.
Raccoons sometimes kill poultry, destroy bird nests, and damage gardens or crops, so any signs of these types of activities can also mean there is a raccoon infestation. Hearing loud thuds and noises from raccoon movement can also signify a homeowner has raccoons in the home.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons
There are various precautions that homeowners can take to try to avoid a raccoon infestation from taking root. First, raccoons can find access into homes through broken vents, holes, uncapped chimneys and other openings along the roof, which is why homeowners should regularly inspect, repair and seal any of these or other potential points of entry. Loose siding and shingles should also be repaired, and it’s also helpful to install a mesh cover or cap over chimneys and other exposed openings to prevent entry.
Homeowners should store trash in sealed areas, ideally as a locked shed or outhouse. Raccoons are very adept at learning how to open garbage cans, so if trash cans are kept out in the open, it’s best to use tightly fitting, animal-proof lids to avoid unwanted attention from hungry raccoons on the prowl for food. Birdseed, bird feeders and fountains should also be removed, as they are sources of sustenance to raccoons and other wildlife. Likewise, built up debris, brush and leaves can serve as perfect hiding spots and dwellings for raccoons, so it’s important to regularly rid the yard of these piles. Also, consider storing firewood, which raccoons may use to help build a shelter, at least 20 feet from the house during the cooler months.
Raccoons
RACCOONS CAN CAUSE A HUGE NUISANCE TO HOME AND BUSINESS OWNERS. KNOCKING OVER GARBAGE CANS, STEALING FOOD AND DAMAGING PROPERTY IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG!
Raccoons can also carry diseases and are known to threaten pets and small children. If you’re tired of raccoons terrorizing your property, call the experts at Delmar Pest Control for same-day raccoon removal services that are guaranteed or your money back!
BEWARE, RACCOONS CAN CARRY A VARIETY OF DANGEROUS DISEASES!
Raccoons are known to carry rabies, a potentially fatal disease that is generally transmitted through animal bites. In addition to rabies, raccoons also carry canine distemper, which is potentially fatal to man’s best friend. Lastly, raccoon feces commonly contains roundworm, which releases infectious spores into the air. With the large number of potential health risks posed by raccoons, it’s important to trap and remove and raccoons present on your property as quickly as possible. However, this doesn’t mean that you should attempt to handle raccoons on your own! Call the raccoon removal experts at Delmar for a safe and effective approach to taking care of your raccoon problem.
CHOOSE AN EXPERIENCED WILDLIFE REMOVAL COMPANY THAT’S FULLY LICENSED & INSURED
Wildlife control is a serious business, with dangers being faced by wildlife control experts each and every day. That’s why is especially important to choose a company that holds the proper licenses and certifications, and is fully insured in case there are any unforeseen incidents.