Raccoon Control

RACCOONS

Identification and Description Exceedingly clever and intelligent animals, raccoons are known to be mischievous and will eat almost anything. Often referred to as a coon, raccoons are sturdy, solid mammals usually around 2 to 3 feet long, and they weigh in at anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds (though there are some documented cases of raccoons being as big as 50 pounds). Distinctively marked with a prominent furred, ringed tail and a black mask over the eyes, raccoons are typically salt-and-pepper gray, but some are actually yellow.

With the exception of specific areas in the Southwest and higher elevations in the mountainous regions, raccoons can be found all over the U.S.. They prefer to live in hardwood forests, specifically those with close access to bodies of water, however raccoons are highly adaptable and are also found in human living areas like orchards, suburban neighborhoods, farms, and gardens. They create dens and nests in barns, haystacks, hollow trees, abandoned buildings and attics.

Since they are chiefly active at night, raccoons can often be present in an area for some time prior to being detected. Without proper knowledge about their damage potential and feeding tendencies, raccoon control can prove to be quite difficult.

Damage Potential

Raccoons can become a problem and cause destruction in different ways. Though it's possible that they will go undetected due to their nocturnal nature, they are fairly easy to identify once you observe the tracks. Raccoon damage can be extensive, and if it isn't dealt with, can be costly. In comparison to the damage that they will do to a building or home, damage to gardens is relatively minor, however, they've been known to find grubs and earth worms by actually rolling up sod that has been freshly laid.

When they are searching for den sites, mother raccoons sometimes take off shingles and even air conditioning ducts to uncover shelter in an crawl space or attic. Raccoons search out shelter in buildings and homes especially in attics or chimneys and in places where compost piles can be raided. In a lot of urban and suburban regions, raccoons adapt to make chimneys sufficient replacements for customary hollow trees. When the animals begin to use certain places in an attic or building as a bathroom, the ceiling below will often hold an objectionable smell and become soiled.

Identified recently as a substantial host for rabies in wild life, reports of diseased animals have dramatically gone up in the past 3 decades. The majority of the rise in reports is related directly to an advancement in raccoon populations in the eastern U.S..

Diet and Feeding Tendencies

Since raccoons are omnivorous, they adapt to places where access to food is readily available. When they start coming into human territory, they favor places where there is garbage or pet food left outside. They've been known to eat birds and poultry when that is handy, and also their eggs. In gardening and farming areas, raccoons eat crops such as watermelon, vegetables, corn, and backyard nuts.

When raccoons become a pest problem in your home or business, it is essential that you locate a wildlife expert that is educated and experienced in removing them safely. Check out http://www.birdandanimalcontrol.com for help to find a company that can regulate your animal control issues and raccoon removal in a humane and efficient manner.