What Is the Best Way to Get Rid of Raccoons?
If you recognize what kind of damage raccoons can create, it’s no surprise you do not want them hanging about. Female raccoons in search of a nesting site might tear off tiles, fascia boards or roof ventilators to get right into your attic. And of course, they’ll desire a snack which is easy to access from a close-by garden, decorative fish pond, pet food dish or trash canister.
Like I said, the wastebasket should be the least of your concerns if you have a raccoon problem. They cause a lot more problems than going through the garbage. Great information about raccoon control company in Houston.
Determine the Size of Your Problem
Raccoons are nocturnal, so they can be tough to spot. It’s specifically important to take note of the clues they leave behind and to the regularity and quantity in which they are left. Below are some points to search for:
- Proof of feeding– toppled trash cans, damages to your garden or fish pond, a spilled or emptied pet food bowl, knocked over bird feeders, a disturbed compost pile.
- Tracks
- Droppings
Along with the proof they leave behind, you may also able to hear them visiting before you ever see them. No matter what notifies you, when you’re aware you have raccoons spending time your home, it’s best to try to get rid of them immediately.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons
The accessibility of food sources near potential den sites draws in female raccoons to nest. The presence of food sources is one factor raccoon populaces can proliferate and end up being large in metropolitan and suburbs. Eliminating food sources is the primary step to hinder raccoons.
If you reside in a largely booming area with a known raccoon problem, it may be beyond the home owner’s control to eliminate the problem. In these, circumstances a neighborhood effort is required to deal with the problem. This is why early discovery is so important.
If the above scenario, isn’t your reality, a few changes can help you manage the raccoon populace around your house.
Leaving garbage out that’s easily accessible is a fantastic way to draw in raccoons. When you take your waste out or if you leave it outside, make certain it’s in a heavy garbage can with a secure cover.
Bring in pet food. Pet food that’s put outdoors ought to be brought in before nightfall to keep raccoons from finding and eating out of your pet’s dish.
Watch your bird feeders. Whether you use a special feeder, a shepherd’s hook or merely bring your feeders in for the evening, it’s a great concept to use at least one method to discourage raccoons. The birds will appreciate it as well!
Pick up dropped fruits and nuts. Yes, raccoons will certainly venture into your backyard even for the natural food that falls off the trees. Maintaining it will certainly make your backyard much less appealing.
Put a fencing around your yard, fish pond, compost heap or newly installed lawn. Raccoons will search for food in gardens, fish ponds and compost heap. The very best method to keep raccoons out of these areas is by installing an electric fence. Ordinary fences do not hold up well enough as raccoons will dig under, climb over or find a way around them. A common fence can become raccoon-proof by including a solitary electrified strand of cable 8 inches above the ground and about 8 inches out from the base of the fence. A pulsating high-voltage, low-amperage fencing charger is utilized to energize the fencing. You may also think about mounting a low, two-wire electrical fence to exclude raccoons from corn, melons and various other garden plants. Fasten two wires on evenly spaced wood articles– one cord is 6 inches above the ground and the other is 12 inches in the air. After that activate the fencing charger from dusk to dawn. This type of reduced electric fencing can additionally be mounted around a freshly laid lawn to prevent raccoons from rolling it back in search of insects or grubs. Then it can be removed as soon as the turf has taken root. These fences are also made use of around decorative ponds to secure koi and goldfish from raccoons.
Never ever intentionally offer food to raccoons. You shouldn’t try to feed raccoons and you must discourage your neighbors from feeding raccoons. A readily offered food resource will just attract even more raccoons and create a bigger problem.
Decrease Potential Nesting Sites
When you’ve done away with conveniently available food sources, you’ll intend to reduce access to prospective den sites. Without an area to nest, raccoons won’t be interested in lingering for long.
Remove wood heaps, thin out thick shrubbery, trim tree branches to decrease access to your roof. You could additionally take into consideration getting rid of trellises and arbors that provide simpler access to your roof.
Seal your chimney. Chimneys are a preferred nesting area of raccoons, which is why it’s an excellent idea to cover yours with a spark arrester or chimney cap. Make sure the cap is tightly secured upon installation to avoid raccoons from drawing it loose. You likewise want to ensure there are no animals inside the chimney prior to covering the opening. If a family of raccoons has taken up residence, you’ll possibly need to hire an expert to remove them.
While chimneys are a preferred entry point, raccoons will also discover various other areas to nest in and around your home. Sealing of possible entry points, before they’ve been discovered, is the best means to keep raccoons away.
Other Methods
Various other techniques to prevent raccoons consist of using items to ward off, scare or trap raccoons. Every one of these methods have their downfalls. Products meant to frighten raccoons will only function until the raccoons understand there’s no threat related to these gadgets. While commercial repellents and natural home remedy have been successful at repelling various other types of wildlife, none have achieved success at getting rid of raccoons. Finally, trapping raccoons can be really dangerous for a person that’s unskilled. Raccoons are recognized to carry a vast array of illness, not only do you run the risk of subjecting yourself but if by some miracle you manage to trap a raccoon and release it elsewhere without being exposed, you risk exposing an entire new environment to any kind of possible illness it may be carrying. It’s possibly best to leave trapping to the professionals unless you are prepared to euthanize it yourself.
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