You can often observe and appreciate some types of wildlife, but the raccoon is one wild animal that has no place in your home’s outdoor areas. Several dangers are associated with raccoons, and homeowners should take steps to prevent raccoons from making your home their home.
Keep reading to know more about the raccoon, including tips for discouraging them from entering your yard and the things to do if a raccoon already shares your residence.
Raccoons and What the Associated Dangers Are
Even though some people think raccoons are cute, you need to take steps to prevent them from frequenting your yard.
Rabies
Raccoons are one of the primary rabies carriers in the United States. They pose a significant danger to unvaccinated pets and humans. Unvaccinated pets will need quarantine and possible euthanasia if they show signs of rabies. Vaccinated pets who encounter raccoons need to receive a rabies booster and may still be subject to quarantine.
Droppings
Raccoon droppings are another potential danger to your family. Roundworms live in raccoon intestines. When the raccoon uses the bathroom, the eggs from these roundworms are in their droppings. If a human comes into contact with raccoon droppings, they may inhale or ingest the eggs and suffer a roundworm infection.
Young children are particularly at risk due to their natural curiosity and their propensity to put unfamiliar things in their mouths. Pets and livestock are also at risk of acquiring a roundworm infection. In some cases, roundworm infections lead to permanent brain, heart, and eye damage.
Raccoons and How to Deter Them
You can do a few things to make your yard an unappealing home for nearby raccoons. First, start by clearing any brush or overgrown vegetation from your property. Dead branches, large bushes, and unkempt shrubbery are ideal spots for raccoons to build a den.
Then, invest in a cover for your child’s sandbox. Raccoons like to lay their droppings in the same area, and a raccoon may view an uncovered sandbox as a great place to turn into their latrine.
Repair any potential entrances to your home or storage buildings. Promptly fix any holes in your walls, roof, foundation, or vents. You should also install skirting around your deck to prevent raccoons from living in this secluded area.
You should immediately remove any potential food sources. Use trashcans with locking lids, and avoid leaving pet food outside for extended periods. If you have a garden or fruit tree, promptly remove ripe or fallen produce. Never feed raccoons or other wild animals.
Raccoons and What the Options for Removal Are
Maybe a raccoon has built a den and now lives in your yard. Explore removal techniques as quickly as possible. As long as the raccoon doesn’t show signs of rabies such as unprovoked aggression, unsteady walking, eye and mouth discharge, or unawareness of its surroundings, you can have a pest control expert relocate the raccoon.
You can also catch the raccoon using a humane trap. Once the raccoon is caught, your pest control specialist will examine the area for signs of raccoon young. If they locate baby raccoons, they can be relocated with their mother.
You can also try a device that frightens the raccoon from your lawn. Some devices emit high-pitched sounds, use erratic movements, or squirt water to encourage the raccoon to move on. Though these devices may scare the raccoon away, some raccoons learn the devices aren’t actually harmful. Increase their effectiveness by ensuring your yard is as unappealing as possible to raccoons.
If the raccoon shows signs of rabies, the only option is often euthanizing it. To ensure you don’t violate any local laws, leave raccoon euthanasia to a professional pest control expert or animal control.
Have a raccoon near your home? Contact Environmental Services Pest Control, LLC, for assistance.