Continue reading to learn how to get your home ready for raccoon breeding season!
Raccoons
Raccoons generally begin their mating season in late January, which can last through March. Females have a gestation period of 65 days or so, which means mother ‘coons are expected to birth their litters between the months of April and May. Mother raccoons are known to have anywhere from 2 to 5 baby raccoons, also called kits, per litter. Interestingly, larger litters generally occur in regions where raccoon mortality rates are higher. For instance, states like North Dakota have rendered the raccoon litter average higher than states like Florida or Louisiana, due to harsh winter climates and excessive hunting.
Kits are born both blind and deaf. Their ear canals open after 3 weeks or so, and then their eyes eventually open a few days after that. They remain with their mother during the nursing process, suckling her nutrient-dense milk; and after 16 weeks, they are weaned onto solid food. At this point, they are self-reliant, and males will live on their own, reaching sexual maturity around a year old.
Raccoon Protection
As mentioned, raccoons are capable of causing a serious amount of damage to a property, both inside and out. For this reason, raccoon-proofing is important, especially for homes or business close to wooded or forested areas, and businesses that throw out food in a dumpster. To protect your property from raccoons, follow the simple tips below.Use lids on exterior trash cans. Latch them down with rope, bungee, or cement blocks.
→ Take your trash out on the morning of garbage pick-up day.
→ Remove all food and water sources outside, including pet bowls, bags of pet food, bird baths, squirrel feeders, and bird houses. Use chicken wire to block off gardens.
→ Remove or block off all possible areas of shelter outside, including log piles, tree houses, pet houses, and sheds.
→ Cover compost piles with tarp and cement blocks.
→ Have your home inspected for open or vulnerable areas, and have these areas professionally sealed to prevent raccoon intrusion. This includes roofs, soffits, gutters, siding, porches, decks, and windows.
→ Install motion-sensored lighting or automatic sound machines.
If you follow all of these tips, you are doing a great job at protecting your home from raccoon damage!
Louisville Raccoon Control
Call 502-553-7622 if you have raccoon problems, or wish to raccoon-proof your property in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control contractors that offer a wide range of raccoon removal and control services for residential and commercial properties. We offer 24 hour emergency service, raccoon cleanup, and minor attic restoration as well. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for Louisville raccoon control, today.