Raccoons in Matawan, NJ Attic
Challenge
Cowleys received a call from a Matawan homeowner for a wildlife infestation, and I was dispatched to resolve the problem. The family had returned from a vacation and were welcomed by shredded insulation that appeared to have fallen from a light fixture in the ceiling as well as loud scratching noises that were coming from the attic. Upon arrival, I spent some time talking to the homeowner to get a better understanding of the situation. She was understandably distressed. After returning from a relaxing vacation, she immediately found herself and her family in the middle of a potentially dangerous wildlife infestation. Nuisance wildlife not only can cause significant property damage, they also pose a health risk to a home’s occupants. I assured the homeowner that I’d promptly remove any animals, and find and seal any entry points into the home so they would not reenter.
I completed a through inspection of the home. This particular infestation was no mystery. I located tell-tale raccoon paw prints showing their trail up the home’s siding as well as raccoon hairs around the light fixture. Raccoons may look cute and cuddly, but they can be highly aggressive creatures, especially females protecting their kits. Also, a raccoon infestation is a genuine emergency. Besides the raccoon droppings that contain disease-transmitting microorganisms, raccoons are the primary rabies vector species in New Jersey. Fortunately, raccoons are not subtle. They normally leave a trail of evidence, not only visual and aural, but even smell, that makes finding them easy to find for a wildlife technician. However, as with most infestations, including this one, actually capturing the raccoons is much more challenging.
After gathering the evidence of a raccoon infestation, the next step was to take action. I always keep a healthy supply a box traps in my truck. These traps safely and humanely catch the animals. Once caught, I relocate them to a wooded area far away from human habitats. I strategically set the traps in areas where the raccoons left trails showing their traveling paths. Sure enough, I returned the next day to find a somewhat ornery raccoon in the cage. I checked the raccoon to find out its gender. Any time you catch a female, there is always a good probability that her babies are nearby. Not only was this raccoon female, but I could tell that she was nursing. At this point, I knew there were babies in the attic. I had to find them to reunite them with their mother. It is not only cruel to abandon the babies, but any that die will leave a rotting carcass that attracts insects and other wildlife.
Solution
I completed a thorough inspection of the home. This particular infestation was no mystery. I located tell-tail raccoon paw prints showing their trail up the home’s siding as well as raccoon hairs around the light fixture. Raccoons may look cute and cuddly, but they can be highly aggressive creatures, especially females protecting their kits. Also, a raccoon infestation is a genuine emergency. Besides the raccoon droppings that contain disease-transmitting microorganisms, raccoons are the primary rabies vector species in New Jersey. Fortunately, raccoons are not subtle. They normally leave a trail of evidence, not only visual and aural, but even smell, that makes finding them easy to find for a wildlife technician. However, as with most infestations, including this one, actually capturing the raccoons is much more challenging.
After gathering the evidence of a raccoon infestation, the next step was to take action. I always keep a healthy supply a box traps in my truck. These traps safely and humanely catch the animals. Once caught, I relocate them to a wooded area far away from human habitats. I strategically set the traps in areas where the raccoons left trails showing their traveling paths. Sure enough, I returned the next day to find a somewhat ornery raccoon in the cage. I checked the raccoon to find out its gender. Any time you catch a female, there is always a good probability that her babies are nearby. Not only was this raccoon female, but I could tell that she was nursing. At this point, I knew there were babies in the attic. I had to find them to reunite them with their mother. It is not only cruel to abandon the babies, but any that die will leave a rotting carcass that attracts insects and other wildlife.
This particular home in Matawan had no access to the ceiling. Normally, we have to cut a hole to gain access, but in this case, I was able to avoid damage to the ceiling. This home had light fixtures and AC vents that I could remove to at least gain some access to the ceiling. But nothing is easy. I could hear the babies’ footsteps, so I knew that they were old enough to be mobile. I could not just find a nearby opening and take them from directly from the nest. I wanted to avoid making holes in the ceiling and come up with an alternative that would save the homeowner from the expense of patching the ceiling. I had an idea. It was not a guaranteed way to catch the babies, but I thought it could work. I used a calling device that mimics raccoon sounds to try to lure the babies to the opening. I couldn’t believe it. Within seconds of playing this call, the babies came over to the opening. Although I felt like the pied piper of raccoons, in reality, the babies were probably hungry and actively looking for their mother. After safely removing the babies, I reinstalled the lighting fixture and vents, and told the homeowner exactly what I did. She was thrilled to know that the babies would be relocated safely with their mother, and that I avoided damaging her home in order to remove them. For this particular call, the outcome could not have been better for both humans and raccoons.
