Raccoons Are On The Loose

Have you heard any noises coming out of your attic? Have you seen evidence of a nuisance pest within your attic? You may not be alone. There could be a raccoon residing in your home with you. Unfortunately, these pests can wreak havoc in your home and possibly your life too. Let me tell you how.

Raccoons pick their locations that will give them plentiful food access and shelter. First, they look for any weak spots around the roof line of the home. Raccoons only need a small opening. Once they locate it around your roof, they use their human like hands and razor sharp teeth to make the hole bigger so they can enter. The most common areas are the soffit, fascia board, gable and/or the attic vent.

Raccoons can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home. These pests chew up insulation and stored personal items to make their

nests. Raccoons start to breed in late January to mid-March and a female can have up to five young at each birth. They can chew into wires which can short out and cause a house fire. Raccoons will also urinate and leave their feces all within the attic space that they have made into their home.

You will need to call a licensed professional in order to trap and remove the raccoon properly from your residence. Elite Wildlife Removal is a licensed and insured company that would be more than happy to work with you. The first step is to have a thorough inspection to determine the level of activity there is, to obtain a plan to trap and remove the pest, and last to work with you regarding the remediation process.

It is extremely important to do the remediation process if you have had a raccoon in your attic or building. Raccoon’s feces is highly toxic to humans. They can carry Baylisascaris Procyonis which is a raccoon roundworm. It's a parasite that lives in the intestines and is transferred from the animal to human or pet when come in contact with it either by digestion or inhalation of the eggs. These nuisance pests are also a vector for the rabies virus. Pets and children are at a higher risk for rabies from infected raccoons by contact of the raccoon’s saliva from either a bite or scratch. Raccoons are also a host for parasites as in fleas, ticks and mites.

Another disease they can carry is Giardiasis which is an infection that raccoons carry and can be transferred to water, soil, and other surfaces. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is transferred through raccoon's urine. This disease can be transferred through open wounds. The carry Listeriosis which is a bacterial infection that causes serious illnesses such as sepsis, meningitis or encephalitis. They also can carry salmonella or E. Coli, fungus and rare parasites.

Here are some tips to keep raccoons away from your home.

[if !supportLists]1. Outside Garbage Cans

Your outside garbage can is a buffet for a raccoon. All they have to do is knock it over to get the lid off and they are set to eat. Keeping the garbage cans inside your shed or garage until garbage day will help prevent raccoons from getting inside them. You can also lock the lid using a bungee cord so the lid will not come off even when the knock the cans over.

[if !supportLists]2. [endif]Keep Pet Food Away

Make sure you clean up any pet food that is outside for your pets. This includes any bird seed or birds and squirrels. Once raccoons find a reliable food source, they will stay around the location to continue to eat. When your pets are finished eating, pick up their bowls instead of leaving them lying around.

[if !supportLists]3. [endif]Entry Points to Gain Access Into Your Home

A raccoon only needs 4 inches in diameter to enter your home. This could be through a vent or hole in your attic. Remember, they are very strong and can even tear an opening through your siding or soffit. Seal any holes that you find around your home.

If you hear any noises coming from your attic or if you have seen evidence of a wildlife pest, give Elite Wildlife Removal a call at 804-867-7184. Our friendly staff will be more than happy to provide you excellent service during your time in need.