Make You Home Less Attractive to Raccoons This Winter

Did you know that a raccoon can weigh over 60 pounds? Not only are they big, they are agile. Unlike most animals, a raccoon can easily take a dime out of a person’s shirt pocket with its fingers. Raccoons may seem cute at a distance, however, it is important to make sure they do not come too close to you and your family. They can be aggressive predatory animals. They are also known to be vectors of rabies and other serious diseases. Because of this it is important to take the following precautions to keep raccoons at a safe distance.

The first tip for keeping raccoons away is habitat modification. You might think that your home and yard are not very conducive for raccoons, and you would probably be wrong. You might not see them all that often, but don’t be fooled, the raccoon population in New Jersey is alive and well. In books and movies raccoons are often portrayed as woodland creatures but they are actually very adept at living extremely close to people. As one of the most opportunistic nuisance wildlife, they can live in rural, suburban, and even urban habitats and thrive.

The first habitat modification you can make is reducing the food sources around your home. It is important to accept two facts when it comes to raccoons: they will eat almost anything and their dexterity means they can get into almost anything. The food in your garbage can alone provide all the sustenance most raccoons need, which is why it is important to use a trashcan that is difficult for them to open. It is also important not to leave food out in your yard or on your porch. Some people like to feed their pets outside. Leaving pet food out like that is like a magnet for raccoons.

The second step to keep your family safe is to practice exclusion methods. Raccoons are agile, smart and bold. Unfortunately, they are infiltrating New Jersey homes with increasing frequency. These adept creatures are just as likely to build their den in a person’s attic, crawlspace, wall voids, or even chimneys as they are to build it in the hollow of a dead tree. Make sure that any openings to these areas of your home are closed. Make sure that the closures are secure as raccoons are very agile with their hands.

So what do you do if you have tried to keep raccoons away and they have still managed to make a home inside your home? Call Little Rascals Nuisance Wildlife Removal! As we stated before, raccoons are large and may be aggressive (especially if there are baby raccoons involved). If cornered, raccoons will go on the attack. They have extremely sharp teeth and claws that are as sharp as knives. For your own safety, raccoon removal is definitely NOT a DIY project.

Not only will we be able to safely remove the raccoons from your home, we will be able to come up with a plan to keep them out in the future!