Raccoons are cute and cuddly, but they can also be dangerous. These nocturnal creatures love to roam around at night, scrounging for food. And if you’ve got a raccoon on your property, it’s likely your houseplants or garden will be their next meal.
That’s why it’s important to know how to identify whether or not you have a raccoon problem before making any rash decisions like hiring a pest control expert or setting traps outside your home.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Catching raccoons can be an effective way of controlling raccoon infestations. |
| There are multiple methods for getting rid of raccoons, including trapping, exclusion, and repellents. |
| Taking preventative measures like securing your trash can help keep raccoons away from your property. |
| It’s important to follow local laws and regulations when dealing with raccoons. |
| If you’re unsure how to deal with a raccoon problem, seek the help of a professional wildlife removal company. |
Search Their Raccoons Nest
Raccoon nests are usually built high up in trees, attics, chimneys or sheds. If you find a nest and want to remove it yourself, remember that raccoons can be territorial and may become aggressive when defending their young.
It’s best to leave this job for the professionals if you don’t feel comfortable doing it on your own.
Investigate Any Strange Noises You Hear Outside
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, which means they will be most active at night. But that doesn’t mean you can’t hear them at other times of day!
The most reliable way to tell if a raccoon has set up residence on your property is by listening for strange noises coming from the attic, the garage, or other outbuildings.
If you hear scratching noises coming from inside one of these structures or if something seems to be moving back and forth above your head you might have found yourself a new resident in need of relocation
If you’re dealing with raccoon infestations, catching them can be a viable option. Check out our easy guide on how to catch raccoons to learn some effective methods and keep your property safe and make sure the raccoons are captured safely.
Look In The Garage And Other Sheds
Look for signs of raccoons living in the shed.
Check that there are no holes they could use to get into the shed. If there are, seal them up or install a door that only opens from the inside so it can’t be opened by wildlife trying to get in.
Check for any damage caused by raccoons living in the shed: ripped screens or damaged walls can indicate where they’re getting in and out of your house via this access point
| Potential Location | Possible Hiding Spots |
|---|---|
| Garage | behind equipment or boxes |
| Tool Shed | between stored materials, inside boxes or containers |
| Outdoor Shed | in corners or behind large items such as lawn mowers or bicycles |
Investigate Your Attic
If you find signs of raccoon activity in your attic, it’s time to get serious about trapping them. There are several ways to trap a raccoon, but the best method for your situation depends on how many raccoons have taken up residence.
If you have just one or two raccoons in your attic, it’s best to set traps near their entry points and then check them daily until you catch one.
As long as there aren’t too many raccoons in your attic and they’re feeding off of scraps from outside sources rather than coming into your house directly and raiding garbage cans, this should be enough to rid yourself of these pests for good!
If there are more than two animals present and/or if they are regularly entering through areas other than their designated entrance point(s), though – say perhaps because there were once holes in the roof leading directly into the kitchen…then things might become slightly more complicated; but don’t fret! We’ll walk through all possible scenarios later on down below..
Getting rid of raccoons is important to ensure a safe and comfortable living environment. With our pro tips on how to get rid of raccoons, you can effectively and safely eliminate these pests from your property and prevent further damage.
Check Underneath Decking And Porches
If you’re looking for a raccoon, the best place to start would be along the exterior of your home. Look for places where they could get in and hide, as well as food sources.
If you have any decks or porches around your home, check underneath them as well. You might even find raccoon tracks on the ground if there is evidence that they have been around often enough!Look For Droppings Or Tracks
The best way to tell if a raccoon has been in your attic is to look for droppings or tracks. Raccoons leave small, black, grape-like droppings in their wake.
If you find any of these by the entrance of your attic or on the ground near it, there’s a good chance that it was likely a raccoon who put them there.
In addition to looking for physical signs like this, also look around for other signs that might point toward a raccoon infestation such as:
- Tracks: Look for track marks in mud or snow nearby where they’ve been eating or sleeping;
- Evidence That They’re Climbing Trees: Raccoons are excellent climbers so if you see tree branches broken off and/or chewed on (often near windows), chances are that you have some climbing critters living with you!
Set Up Camera Traps Around Your Property
Once you have a general idea of where the raccoon is coming in, it’s time to set up a camera trap.
Camera traps are small cameras that automatically take photos when triggered by motion or heat. They can be used to catch wild animals without harming them, though they can also be used as surveillance devices or for wildlife photography. You can purchase one online or at your local hardware store.
To get started with your camera trap, make sure it faces the expected path of entry for the raccoon (or any other animal) and place it at ground level so that an animal straying into its path won’t trip over it by accident and set off a false alarm.
| Camera Type | Resolution | Viewing Angle | Night Vision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browning Strike Force HD | 1080p | 100 degrees | Yes |
| Reconyx HyperFire 2 | 1080p | 50 degrees | Yes |
| Bushnell Trophy Cam HD | 720p | Field of view (FOV) – 55 degrees | Yes |
If you don’t mind being more discreet about this endeavor say if you live on some land of yours but don’t want people wandering onto your property you may want to bury this device under leaves and debris so as not to attract attention from passersby
If you want to keep raccoons from making your property their home, it’s important to stay proactive. Our simple guide on how to keep raccoons away provides helpful tips such as securing your garbage and not feeding them, to ensure they stay out of your yard for good.
Make Use Of A Professional Pest Control Expert
If you have tried everything and still can’t find a raccoon, it might be time to give in and call in the professionals. A professional pest control expert will have access to a variety of traps that are much more effective than anything else you could use.
They also know what type of bait to use when trying to trap a raccoon for removal or relocation. The cost is usually not too high, especially if you’re talking about trapping and releasing rather than killing the animal like some municipalities do.
If all else fails, it’s worth considering hiring a professional exterminator company that has experience dealing with raccoons on your property (don’t use an exterminator who specializes in other pests).
You don’t want someone who knows nothing about these animals trying to remove them from your home!
If you have any doubts at all about finding out how dangerous they are first hand before hiring one yourself then make sure they’ve had experience with this species before accepting any bids from them!
Determine If An Animal Is A Raccoon Or Not.
You may not be able to tell if an animal is a raccoon or not. Raccoons are nocturnal, so you may not see them during the day.
Raccoons are omnivores, which means they will eat a variety of foods. This makes them difficult to get rid of because they can find plenty of food in your home and they can also open doors and windows to get inside.
Raccoons are very intelligent animals that use their hands like humans do when they need something from another person. They even use tools like sticks or rocks when searching for food!
Raccoons can create a major mess of the trash when they come into contact with it, so keeping them out of the trash can be crucial for a clean yard. In this simple way to keep raccoons out of the trash, we offer some easy to follow tips, such as securing the trash lid, using a bungee cord, or building an enclosure to keep raccoons out.
Have A Plan To Get Rid Of The Raccoons
This is the most important tip of all, because getting rid of raccoons is no easy task. If you plan on hiring a professional pest control expert to do it for you, be sure to check their references and ask them how they will get rid of the raccoons without hurting your property or animals in any way.
If you need help deciding whether or not an animal is a raccoon or not, set up some camera traps around your property so that when they come back again tonight (or tomorrow night), then at least we’ll know what kind of animal it was.
And while we’re on the subject: investigating strange noises outside is always important; especially if they happen late at night!
You never know where these creatures could be lurking when nobody else is around they could even be hiding somewhere inside your garage or other sheds!
Conclusion
The best way to get rid of raccoons is to find out where they are getting in and closing off that entrance. If you can’t do this yourself, contact a professional pest control company.
They’ll be able to help locate the problem and solve it for you!
If you love gardening, knowing how to keep raccoons out of your garden is essential. With our guide on how to keep raccoons out of garden explained, you’ll learn a few effective methods such as removing the source of their food and water, using plants as barriers, and using safe repellents to keep raccoons away from your garden
Further Reading
Below are some additional resources related to raccoon control and prevention:
How to Catch a Raccoon: This article provides detailed information on how to catch a raccoon using either a live trap or a lethal trap.
Answering Raccoon Removal Questions: This resource offers answers to common questions about raccoon removal, such as how to prevent them from entering your attic and how to deal with raccoons in your yard.
Raccoon in the House: This article discusses what to do when a raccoon gets inside your home and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
FAQs
What are some common methods for raccoon removal?
There are a variety of methods used for raccoon removal, including live trapping, lethal trapping, and exclusionary methods.
Is it legal to trap raccoons?
In most cases, trapping raccoons is legal, but it’s important to check with your local and state/provincial laws to make sure you are compliant.
What should I do if I find a baby raccoon?
If you find a baby raccoon, do not touch or handle it. Call a professional wildlife removal company for assistance.
How can I keep raccoons away from my garbage cans?
To keep raccoons away from your garbage cans, you can use bungee cords to secure the lid, use trash cans that are difficult for raccoons to access, or store your trash cans in a secure location like a shed or garage.
How can I tell if I have raccoons in my attic?
Signs of raccoons in the attic include loud thumping or scratching noises, foul odors, and damage to roofs or vents. You may also notice droppings or food remnants in the attic.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
