Raccoon Control

Identification and Description Exceedingly clever and intelligent animals, raccoons are known to be mischievous and will eat nearly anything. Also frequently called coons, they are solid, sturdy mammals around 2 to 3 feet in length, and usually weigh in at between 10 and 30 pounds (although there are some reported cases of raccoons getting up to 40 or 50 pounds). Marked with a prominent dark mask over the eyes and a furred, ringed tail, raccoons are generally salt-and-pepper gray, although there are some that are yellow.

With the exception of specific areas in the Southwest and higher elevations in the mountains, raccoons can be found all over the US. They prefer to reside in hardwood forests, particularly those that are nearby bodies of water, however raccoons are extremely adaptable and also can be seen in human living areas like orchards, farms, gardens, and suburban neighborhoods. They create dens and nests in abandoned buildings, haystacks, barns, hollow trees and attics.

Since they are predominantly active at night, raccoons can be present for some time in an area before they're detected. Without the right knowledge about their feeding tendencies and damage possibilities, raccoon control can often be very difficult.

Damage Potential

Raccoons make a nuisance of themselves and create destruction in a variety of ways. While it's true they can be undetected for periods of time, raccoons can be pretty easy to identify by their tracks. Raccoon damage can be extensive, and if it isn't dealt with, can be fairly expensive. As compared to damage that they can do to a home or building, damage done to gardens is fairly minor, however, they've been known to look for grubs and earth worms by actually rolling up sod that has been freshly laid.

When they are searching for a nesting site for their babies, female raccoons will sometimes take off roof shingles and even air conditioning and heating ducts in order to find shelter in an attic or crawl space. They often search out refuge in houses and businesses especially in attics or chimneys and in places where a garbage can be raided for food. In many suburban regions, raccoons adapt to make chimneys suitable alternatives for customary hollow trees. When the animals begin to use specific areas in a building or attic as a bathroom, ceilings below will sometimes hold an intolerable odor and become discolored.

Identified recently as a substantial rabies host in wildlife, reports of infected animals have dramatically increased over the last 3 decades. A lot of the increase in reports is related directly to an advancement in raccoon populations in the eastern U.S..

Feeding Tendencies and Diet

Because raccoons are omnivorous, they adapt to places where they have access to food. When they start to come into human territory, they have a tendency to gravitate toward areas where there's pet food or a garbage can left outside. They're known to eat ducks, chickens and other birds when that food is handy, and also their eggs. In farming and garden areas, raccoons consume crops like watermelon, vegetables, backyard nuts, and corn.

When raccoon populations become a pest problem where you live, it's essential that professionals are located that are educated and capable in safely removing them. Take a look at http://www.birdandanimalcontrol.com for help to find a company that will handle your raccoon control issues and raccoon removal in a humane and timely way.

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