DIY Raccoon Control
by pest expert Matthew S. Hess with contributions from Michael Sizemore
We are often asked the question, “How can I do my own raccoon control?” It isn’t as easy to answer the question as it is to ask it. First of all, you must realize that successful wildlife control is made up of both art and luck and sometimes you run out of luck. But more importantly, if you are seeking to do your own raccoon control, you must be aware of the potential dangers involved.
In this article, we will cover the art and the luck, the dangers of raccoons, identifying raccoons, potential damages they pose, how to prevent them, how to control them, and who to call when it comes to that point.
How to Identify a Raccoon
Raccoons are perhaps the most notably easy nuisance wildlife animals to identify with their infamous “bandit’s” eye mask and bushy, black-ringed tail. Standing at around 9.1 – 12 inches at the shoulder, 26 – 39 inches long, and weighing in at 6 to 27 pounds, raccoons are about the size of a small dog.
Habits
As a nod to the black mask covering their eyes, raccoons are often referred to as “trash pandas” and “trash bandits”. This name is further earned by their habits within human-inhabited areas, especially suburbs and cities.
They are among the most intelligent wild animals in Kentucky, capable of opening complex closures including doors, windows, lock-boxes, trash cans, jars, bottles, latches and even untie knots and unlock gates. This is due to their dexterous, five-fingered hands that are sensitive to the touch and very well padded.
Raccoons are nocturnal and crepuscular (active from dawn to dusk) but are sometimes seen during daylight hours. Typically, they are most active from spring to fall and prefer to stay in cozy dens for several weeks at a time during winter months.
Habitat
Forested areas with water make for a favored natural habitat. However, cities are nothing a raccoon can’t easily handle. They in fact fair quite well anywhere humans are found, denning inside homes and other buildings, and finding plenty of food in garbage cans and dumpsters.
Diet
Omnivorous by nature, raccoons will eat anything from human food to fish, crabs, bird eggs, insects, fruits, seeds, nuts, pet food, and more.
The Dangers of Raccoons
It’s important to wear gloves, a respirator, and disposable clothing when cleaning up after raccoons, especially their feces. Raccoons can transmit several diseases to humans through their droppings and urine. Among them are raccoon roundworm, salmonella, leptospirosis, and rabies. Wearing proper personal protective equipment can prevent contraction and possibly save your life. It’s important to have any nuisance raccoons removed from around your property as quickly as possible.
Besides their feces and urine, raccoons’ bites, scratches, and saliva pose the risk of rabies. They are very stocky and strong animals with sharp teeth and claws and can be easily provoked into attacking. They may look cute, but they are wild animals capable of inflicting serious damage on humans and pets. Unless properly trained in handling them, most people should stay clear of wild raccoons.
Problems and Damages Caused by Raccoons
Significant damage to homes is the number one call we receive regarding raccoons. Inside an attic, they can destroy HVAC duct work, rip up insulation, tear out soffit, cause fecal and urine stains in ceilings, and more. Additionally, damages to gutters, siding, window screens, roofing, and more, can be caused by their frequent climbing to access an attic or soffit area.
Besides immediate damage to a structure, raccoons are known to destroy trash cans and raid dumpsters, leaving behind an unsightly mess. They may also raid feed storage areas on farms, stored products in covered warehouses, and more.
Once Racoons find a good food source, they seek shelter. This could be under a porch, in your eves, in an outbuilding, in your crawlspace, or in your attic. This means that your home could become potentially dangerous as fecal and urine deposits build up.
The Science, Art, and Luck of Trapping Raccoons
Trapping raccoons is an art and a science but also often requires a little luck. Knowing where the raccoon is coming from and going to, what pathway they are using, what it is after (food, water, shelter, etc.), and when it is active and present are important. Understanding their nature, abilities, approximate age, and their sex are also equally important when choosing the best trapping devices and lures.
But even when you have all the science down pat, you’ve picked a raccoon-proof trap, staged it along the favored pathway, properly baited the device with a favored food, and are now waiting for the catch, what do you do when a skunk, opossum, or stray cat wander along and end up in your trap? This is where the luck comes in. No matter how well-experienced you are, there’s always the possibility of trapping a non-targeted animal. For most people, it’s not a big deal until it’s a skunk!
Trapping requires experience, skill, knowledge, and a little bit of luck. If you lack in any of those categories, you may end up with a trap-shy raccoon. Once this happens, even professional trappers will have difficulty trapping the raccoon with similar traps.
How to prevent raccoons
Preventing Raccoons from your property can be achieved by taking precautionary measures that reduce the three things necessary for any animal to survive; food, water, and shelter. When preventing raccoons, there are several things you can do to help make your property unfriendly:
- Do not allow pet food and water to remain overnight
- Secure farm feeds in locking containers
- Keep weeds to a minimum
- Trim trees away from any structures
- Maintain a minimal distance of 16-18 inches between the structure and any plants or shrubs
- Don’t allow shrubs and plants to grow more than a few feet tall when against a structure
- Scraps should not be tossed outside on the property
- Keep lawns mowed and weeded
- Use animal-proof garbage receptacles outside
- Clean garbage receptacles regularly
- Avoid open compost piles that allow access to animals
- Structural exclusions and pest-proofing (best performed by professionals)
How to Control Raccoons
Once raccoons are on your property, in your home, or in other structures, it’s too late for prevention. However, there are a few steps you can take to remove them. First, ensure there is no food available to them. Once all potential food is eliminated and the raccoons are still present, it may be time for more serious steps.
Gunshot
Of course, a rifle or shotgun will do the job if you live in an area where it is permitted. However, be sure that this is permissible in your area, that you have the knowledge and training to safely accomplish the task, and that it is safe to proceed. We do not recommend applying this technique unless absolutely necessary.
Live Traps
Safer techniques include live-trapping measures. This utilizes a one-way trap baited with a preferred food source. Once the raccoon is drawn to the food source, it will enter the trap, triggering the release, and closing the door behind it. Then the animal can be safely removed from the property and disposed of as per your State regulations and guidelines.
Dog-Proofs
Sometimes, however, live traps fail to capture the target animal. This may be because the animal has been previously trapped and released, or has witnessed others being trapped. Additionally, it could be interference from non-target animals like feral cats, skunks, opossums and more. A dog-proof trap can come in handy in these situations. Dog-proof traps allow the small paw of a racoon to enter the trap and become caught, but prevents dogs and similar animals from the same fate.
Leg Holds
These traps are best reserved for use away from homes and areas where pets frequent. These traps can be more dangerous than lives traps or dog-proofs and require much more knowledge and skill to be properly and safely used.
Professional Control
Truthfully, if you don’t have experience trapping raccoons, you should call someone who does. Besides the possibility of creating a potentially trap-shy nuisance raccoon, you should consider the potential of being bitten and contracting rabies. Wildlife trapping is no joke and shouldn’t be treated as if it’s something anyone can do. While it may be true that anyone can attempt it, it is also equally true that those who do not have the knowledge and skill to do so may end up in danger… potentially life-threatening danger.
Four Seasons Pests Solutions has decades of trapping experience and can handle whatever nuisance pest you have, including raccoons. Are experienced trapping experts know the science and the art of trapping, and are pretty lucky too!
