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It's 1:00 in the morning. I'm a raccoon and I've decided to move into your attic. Are you sleeping? I'll make so much noise because I'm rearranging what's up there to fit my taste. My sharp claws will tear into your duct work and insulation so I can use them for my bed. I also use the insulation as my personal bathroom so you don't have to worry about sharing. Unfortunately, my feces is toxic so watch out if you ever decide to come and visit me. I also have sharp teeth that will shred the wires in the attic so if you smell smoke I highly recommend you calling 911. You won't be able to evict me on your own. You will need to contact a professional wildlife company to do so. I am afraid of Elite Wildlife Removal because the word all over the neighborhood is that they got rid of some other raccoons. However, we will become awesome friends.
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.
Here are some tips to keep raccoons away from your home.
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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
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. Give us a call at 804-867-7184 or 301-848-5048. We will be more than happy to work with you regarding any of your wildlife pest needs.