Home Decorating Ideas - Raccoon Control

RACCOONS

Description and Identification Highly smart animals, raccoons are mischievous and will eat almost anything. Often referred to as coons, they are stocky, solid mammals approximately 2 or 3 feet in length, and they weigh in at between 10 to 30 pounds (although there are reported incidences of raccoons getting to be as much as 40 or 50 pounds). Marked with a prominent dark mask over the eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail, raccoons are generally salt-and-pepper gray, although there are some that are actually yellow.

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

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

Damage Potential

Raccoons make nuisances of themselves and cause destruction in several different ways. Though it is possible that they will go undetected for periods of time, raccoons can be pretty easy to identify by their tracks. Raccoon damage can be extensive, and if it isn't dealt with, can be rather expensive. In comparison to the damage that can be done to a house or building, damage to gardens is fairly minor, however, they are known to look for worms and grubs by actually rolling up freshly laid sod.

When they're searching for a nesting site, mother raccoons sometimes take off roof top ventilators and shingles in order to gain access to an attic or crawl space. They often look for shelter in buildings and homes especially in attics or chimneys and in places where a garbage can be raided for food. In urban and suburban areas, raccoons have adapted to make chimneys sufficient alternatives for conventional hollow trees. When the animals start using certain places in a building as a bathroom, the ceiling below will often become stained and hold an intolerable odor.

Recently identified as a substantial rabies host among wild life, reports of infected animals have dramatically increased in the last 30 years. A lot of the report increase is related directly to an increase in raccoon populations in the eastern United States.

Feeding Tendencies and Diet

Since raccoons are omnivorous, they acclimate and adapt to areas where food access is available. When they begin coming into human territory, they have a tendency to gravitate toward places where there is pet food or a garbage can left outside. They have been known to eat chickens and birds when that food is attainable, as well as their eggs. In gardening and farming regions, raccoons will eat produce like vegetables, backyard nuts, watermelon, and corn.

When raccoon populations become a pest problem where you live, it's important that you locate a professional that is educated and experienced in safely removing them. See http://www.birdandanimalcontrol.com for help to find a company that will manage your animal control problem and raccoon removal in an efficient and safe way.

Evelyn is a writer for http://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.