The best way to get rid of a raccoon is a raccoon trap.
The trap needs to be secured and away from anything you do not want to be destroyed. The lawn underneath the trap and close-by flowers or shrubbery will likely be damaged if accessible. Place the trap on concrete or dirt if possible. If not, place the trap in a space that is invaluable and does not have any valuable surroundings within arm’s reach.
When choosing a location on the ground, be mindful of the surroundings that may be destroyed, and be sure to secure the trap. Place traps in an area where raccoons frequent. Because you need to check a trap regularly, it needs to be placed in a somewhat accessible location.
Raccoon Trap Tips
Keep 12 inches around the trap clear. Raccoons have extremely dexterous front paws with five long, tapered fingers and long nails. Raccoons destroy everything they can get their hands on when trapped.
Secure the trap and protect the animal. If you set a trap on the roof, make sure it is secure! Unless the trap can be stabilized, it is not safe for a raccoon to be in a trap on a pitched roof. You should use a trap that has some covering to protect the animal from the elements.
Bait the trap with sweet items to reduce non-target captures. You can purchase sweet pasts. Fruits like cherries or grapes, marshmallows or jelly work effectively as raccoon bait.
What Smell Do Raccoons Hate?
Raccoon eviction spray works when young are present. Raccoon eviction spray works by using the scent of male raccoon urine. Male raccoons will kill raccoon kits, so female raccoons will leave that area. Sometimes that means moving to a different area in your house. Sometimes the raccoons will leave. Once they leave, make sure to install exclusions to keep them out.
If raccoon eviction spray does not work, use a cage trap to remove the mother. You can remove the babies by hand. Place them in a cardboard box with a towel. Release the mother on your property and leave the box outside. She will return to them.
Where do raccoons live in homes?
Raccoon in Attics
Like many animals, raccoons commonly take up residence in attics, as they are usually warm, quiet, and seldom visited by humans. Raccoons are some of the largest animals you’ll come across in a residential setting, so if a raccoon is in your attic, you might hear loud thumping noises that simply couldn’t be produced by a smaller animal.
Raccoons in Attics
Raccoons on Roof
Raccoons on roofs can cause significant damage to your property. Females are known to destroy soffits, fascia boards, shingles, vents, and insulation to establish denning sites. Once a raccoon creates or enlarges a hole in the rooftop, it becomes an easy pathway to the attic.
Raccoons will not nest on your roof. So if you limit accessibility to your roof, you can solve the raccoon problem.
Raccoons on Roof
Raccoon in Chimney
Raccoons are known to live in chimneys, which they can easily climb up and down. The best way to ensure raccoons (or any animal, for that matter) stay out of your chimney is to install a commercial stainless steel chimney cap.
Raccoons in Chimneys
In the Walls.
Raccoons can either climb down or fall down wall cavities. Raccoons inside walls can be difficult to remove. Raccoons that fell down might be trapped, and a trapped raccoon might die if ignored. Usually, you will need to find precisely where the raccoon is and then cut through your wall to remove the raccoon.
Raccoons in Walls
Crawlspaces and Basements
Raccoons typically get in through the, basement door seals, trim, or even from the ground. Raccoons may find their way into your crawlspace if there is a big enough hole to squeeze in. Once inside, the critter may create a den. The most effective means of removal is to set a live trap. You could wait for the raccoon to leave, but you’ll need to make sure there are no entry holes.
If you find an animal living in your crawlspace, it is critical to determine where the animal made its way in.
Raccoons in Crawlspaces Raccoons in Basements
Raccoon under Decks or Porches.
Yet another area that raccoons frequent. Common signs that you have raccoons under your deck are rustling and thumping noises, a strong odor of feces or urine, and hand-looking footprints around the area.
Raccoons leave their den nightly so you could install exclusion devices at night. Do not seal the area under your porch if young are present. Once the raccoon is gone, you’ll need to create effective exclusions. Typically, these exclusions will include wire mesh, hardware cloth, and buried fences to prevent more animals from entering.
Why do raccoons enter houses?
Our houses simply make great habitats, as they are warm, sheltered, and often located near food sources. These properties also make our homes premier locations for raising young, so if you suspect you have raccoons, it’s also quite possible you have a litter of baby raccoons to contend with. Baby raccoons—called kits—are typically born between March and April.
Leare more Raccoons on House
Raccoons in the Yard
Raccoons like all other animals are seeking food, water, and shelter. The first step to get rid of or prevent raccoons from choosing your property is to ensure you do not create an environment for them.
Follow these tips to keep your yard raccoon-free:
- Keep your garage door closed, especially at night. Garages provide a generous shelter space for raccoons. Many people will leave their garage doors open to provide shelter for outdoor animals, like cats, but the destruction from a raccoon would make you change your mind. Once a raccoon enters your garage, it can cause enough destruction to enter your living space. Or you may already have openings/holes in the walls of your garage which a raccoon will utilize to gain access to your home.
- Do not leave food outside. If your pet eats outside, please ensure you remove their dish and water bowl after they are finished eating. If your family has a meal outside, be sure to take all used plates, utensils, and condiments inside and ensure the space is crumb-free.
- We highly discourage placing birdfeeders out on your property, but if you do, be very cautious of the location you choose. If possible, put only one day’s worth of seed in the feeder at a time.
- Raccoons are strong and have very dexterous hands so be sure to keep your garbage can tightly shut and inaccessible. If you are having trouble with a raccoon continuously rummaging through your trash, consider tying your garbage can shut.
- If you grow any fruits or vegetables on your property, be sure to retrieve it as soon as it is ready. If a raccoon knows there is a food source available, you will have a return visitor who will likely bring other guests.
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Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in
Tulsa!
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.
Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.
Because
bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious
bat droppings.
Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.
She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!
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We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.
He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!
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