Troubleshoot your raccoon problems with a pro now: 423-502-8148
Raccoon removal is risky business and most people need a professional, especially if it has made it inside the house. Climbing into an attic with a Raccoon is not recommended for the inexperienced. As professionals, we can effectively remove the raccoon and insure that it does not further damage property. We also guarantee that it cannot come back. We have years of wildlife experience and hundreds of happy customers.
About Raccoons
Raccoons weigh 8 to 20 pounds, are nocturnal, and surprisingly nimble climbers. Raccoons are omnivorous (feeding on plant and animal matter) and do well in urban environments where pet foods, garbage, etc. are abundant. It is much easier for a raccoon to gather enough calories to sustain itself for a day out of a trash can or a pet food bowl than it is from the forest.
Breeding season varies with latitude with earliest breeding dates being in December running on into April. Breeding is triggered by increases in daylight that occur with seasons. Reports of raccoon litters in the Tri-cities region seem to peak in the spring months of March and April; but occasional litters are encountered into mid-summer. Females have 3 to 5 kits per litter. Juveniles stay with the female until fall when the family group splits up. Males take no part in raising offspring and may even kill kits. Females separate themselves from other raccoons while they have young to prevent this.
Calls related to raccoons include pooping in pools, raiding trash, or behaving in a threatening manner. The largest portion of our calls from spring to mid-summer are related to females and a litter of babies in attics. Raccoons in the wild den in natural cavities in trees. However, attics provide superior denning sites. They are warmer and already packed with soft fluffy nesting material (insulation). Evidently, Raccoon fur protects them from the itchyness that people suffer from when dealing with this insluation. Raccoons are nocturnal so it is unlikely that homeowners will see them coming or going from attic entrances. Many customers are surprised to learn that raccoons commonly den in attics….until they have one.
Most homeowners draw the line at the foundations. For most, wildlife that passes through the back yard is fun to watch; but wildlife that decides to make a home inside their own home is a real problem. This is understandable. There is a wide range of serious problems ranging from serious diseases to major property damage that come with these home invaders. Damage from wildlife species can be severe and very expensive. This is certainly true for raccoons. Raccoons have the strength to shred items like flexible HVAC ductwork, rip off shingles, rip off siding, and push open soffit material in eaves and let themselves inside an attic. Their paws are very “handlike” and they are quite able to grasp parts of a home and pull. They may also tear off parts of a home (like shingles or siding) if an animal becomes upset or frustrated. Our customer with the greatest property loss to raccoons last year paid out about $12,000 for repairs for a new vinyl roof that had over 30 holes chewed through it and it was not covered by his insurance policy. Damage by wildlife species is rarely covered by homeowner’s policies.
Porch columns on older homes can be a wildlife entry point.
Diseases Transmitted by Raccoons
Raccoon droppings and other bodily fluids can carry several diseases which should not be taken lightly. Most noteworthy of these is Baylisascaris procyonis or the Raccoon Roundworm. Raccoon Roundworm travels through the tissues of the host and is a particularly long lived parasite. It can cause damage to liver, eye, brain, and other tissue. It is difficult to diagnose because it can infect several different organs. Infections of Raccoon Roundworm can be fatal. Infected droppings can be found in about any area that raccoons frequent. Attics, patios, roofs, and back yards can all be infected with this parasite. Back yard areas frequented by small children can be particularly problematic since smaller children may be at higher risk of hand to mouth contamination. Many underestimate the raccoon problem in this area and are surprised to hear that, in the right season, raccoon-related calls are our number one calls.
Raccoon vomit with a parasitic worm.
Rabies is another disease associated with raccoons. Rabies can be transmitted to pets, livestock, and humans. Though there are several diseases that can cause unusual behavior, raccoons that behave strangely should be treated with caution. People who are bitten or otherwise come in contact with saliva from potentially rabid animals will need to have rabies vaccinations. Rabies vaccinations are expensive and give the recipient flu-like symptoms.
Even a species as large as a raccoon may reach areas in home that are inaccessible to humans. This can create severe problems in removing the kits and any latrines that may be present. When harassed, the female raccoon may move her litter deeper into inaccessible attic spaces making matters worse.
Raccoon entering restricted part of attic where kits were located.
Entering attic or other confined areas while raccoons are present is risky. Raccoons that normally melt away into the vegetation may feel cornered and may be more likely to attack. Care should be taken in these situations. Do not put yourself into a situation where an animal could feel cornered.
This also applies to situations where raccoons are feeding on patios, out of pet bowls, or out of trash cans. Surprising one of these animals could lead to a bite. Animals that have been fed by humans will become problem animals. Animals that have lost their fear of humans should be regarded with a level of caution. Feeding raccoons will often lead to severe problems for the person feeding the raccoon and their neighbors. Feeding raccoons will habituate raccoons to humans and they will no longer keep their distance. This is a very bad idea and eventually someone is likely to be bitten.
Things to Look For If You Think You Have Raccoons Living in Your Home
“Raccoons in the attic” is one of our most common calls. Raccoons are excellent climbers and have little problems reaching rooftops where they can then enter attics. They may even enter crawl spaces if left open. Having these guys in your home can wreak havoc on your property. We had one customer who had raccoons tear about 30 holes in a flat vinyl roof while they were away on vacation. (It also rained while they were gone.) We thought that it might be helpful if people knew a few of the signs to look for if they think they have this problem. Simply seeing a raccoon in the back yard does not mean that you have them in the attic.
Latrines – Raccoons will make latrines in attics of homes where they live. Latrines are accumulated piles of feces. Feces looks similar to a small to midsized dog droppings.
Latrines on Roof – Raccoon will create latrines on the roof of homes. If raccoons can make it to the roof they are likely to test for “soft spots” and attempt to gain entry. Make sure that possible entry points are solid.
Attic Noises – Raccoons make a great deal of noise in attics. Noises include footsteps, snarls, kitten-like mews, thumps, etc. Raccoons can make more noise than smaller rodents (rats, mice, squirrels) who tend to make more scratching, gnawing, and scurrying noises.
Out of Place Soffit Panels - Soffits are the number one entry point for Raccoons. Vinyl panels are easily pushed aside especially if they are poorly installed. However, raccoons sometimes enter and soffit panels spring back into place. This depends, to a great extent on how the soffit was installed.
Scratch Marks on Woodwork- Scratches on 4x4 post and other wood work can be indicators of raccoon activity. Often woodwork is used to gain access to upper portions of homes. Toenail scratches will often be left behind, especially if a post is used consistently (see picture).
Roof Sightings – Sightings on roofs are cause for suspicion especially if they are regular. Once they gain access to roof areas, raccoons will attempt to gain entry to attics.
Foot Prints in Dust – Small footprints in the shape of a hand on the top of air conditioning ductwork are a good sign of raccoon intrusion. Often raccoons will use ductwork as a pathway to get from one part of attic to another
Open Holes in Foundations – Large open holes in foundations are invitations to all types of wildlife including raccoons. Look for hand like prints on plastic sheeting, in mud, etc.
Unexplained Dirty Smears - Unexplained dirty smears on the exterior of your home is a good indicator of activity. Smears occur where animals climb or rub against the side of homes. Smears may be seen along downspouts if raccoons are climbing them for access to the roof.
Insulation Trails – Raccoons will follow regular pathways through insulation once they gain access to the attic. Noticeable compression of the insulation will be evident. Trails will be evident. Raccoon trails are much wider than those of other species. Raccoon trails will be 10-12” wide or more.
Noises Coming From the Chimney - Raccoons often use chimneys to raise their young. Chimney noises will become more noticeable as the young raccoons grow larger and are more active.
Although raccoons are one of the largest home invader species that we deal with, customers often go for long periods of time and do not realize that they are host to these animals. Recently this spring we completed a project for a Johnson City area client who noticed several displaced soffit panels on her home. She had not heard any noises or seen any other signs of raccoons. She believed that the raccoon invasion was relatively recent. Upon inspection, we found flexible heating and cooling ductwork was shredded as was tubing that carried air from bathroom ventilation fans. There were several latrines in various parts of the attic. Insulation was severely compacted and had pathways trampled into it. Damage was significant.
It was only during the exclusion and repair process that we realized how long the raccoons had been in the attic. Large numbers of Persimmon seeds were found in the raccoon droppings. Persimmon seeds are only available to raccoons in the fall. Persimmons were probably available to the raccoons as much as six months previous to the call from this customer. It is possible that the raccoons were in her attic much longer than six months. Though impossible to verify, I suspect that raccoons had been visiting this home for a couple of years. Raccoon work can be risky, especially if the animal is inside the home, and may require the assistance of a professional. Give us a call if you need assistance.