Raccoon Control

RACCOONS

Identification and Description Exceptionally intelligent and clever animals, raccoons are known to be mischievous and eat just about anything. Also frequently called coons, they are stocky mammals approximately 2 to 3 feet long, and they weigh in at anywhere from 10 and 30 pounds (although there have been some reported cases of raccoons growing to be as much as 40 or 50 pounds). Marked distinctively with a prominent dark mask over the eyes and a furry, ringed tail, raccoons are generally salt-and-pepper gray, though there are some that are actually yellow.

With the exception of higher elevations in the mountainous regions and specific areas in the Southwest, raccoons are prevalent all over America. They prefer to make their homes in hardwood forests, especially those nearby a body of water, however raccoons are adaptable and can also be found in human living areas such as gardens, farmsteads, orchards, and suburban neighborhoods. They create dens and nests in haystacks, abandoned buildings, hollow trees, barns and rock crevices.

Since they are mostly active at night, raccoons can be present for quite some time in an area before they are detected. Without proper knowledge about their damage potential and feeding tendencies, raccoon control can prove to be tricky.

Feeding Tendencies and Diet

Since raccoons are omnivorous, they adapt and acclimate to areas where access to food is readily available. When they start coming into human territory, they have a tendency to gravitate toward places where there is pet food or garbage left outside. They've been known to eat birds and poultry when that is handy, along with their eggs. In farming and garden regions, raccoons feed on crops like backyard nuts, watermelon, corn, and vegetables.

Damage Possibilities

Raccoons make a nuisance of themselves and create destruction in a variety of ways. Although it's possible that they will go undetected for periods of time, they are fairly easy to identify once tracks are observed. Raccoon damage can be extensive, and if it isn't handled, can be pricey. As compared to damage that can be done to a house or building, damage to gardens is rather minor, however, they have been known to hunt for worms and grubs by actually rolling up sod that has been freshly laid.

When they are searching for a site to nest, mother raccoons will often remove air conditioning ducts and roof shingles in order to look for shelter in an wall space or attic. Raccoons frequently look for refuge in buildings and homes particularly in attics or chimneys and in areas where garbage cans can be raided for food. In a lot of suburban and urban communities, raccoons will adapt to make chimneys acceptable substitutes for more conventional hollow trees. When the animals start using specific places in a building or attic as a bathroom, the ceiling below will sometimes hold a repugnant odor and become discolored.

Recently identified as a major rabies host in wildlife, reports of diseased animals have gone up dramatically in the last 3 decades. A great deal of the report increase is directly related to a broadening of raccoon populations in eastern United States.

When raccoon populations become a pest control problem in your area, it is imperative that you locate a professional that is capable and educated in removing them safely. Check out http://www.birdandanimalcontrol.com for assistance in finding a company that'll manage your animal control issues and raccoon removal in a timely and humanitarian way.

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Evelyn is a writer for www.birdandanimalcontrol.com that researches and writes about animal removal and control. Find tips and information about raccoon removal, as well as feeding tendencies and identification.

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