Funny Facts About Raccoons

There are so many interesting and even silly facts about the common mammal we know as the raccoon. Raccoons are very intelligent and come in various different shapes, sizes, colors, and species. There is lots to learn about raccoons, and the learning process is so much fun! Continue reading to learn more about wild raccoons, and the funny facts that make them so interesting to learn about.

Raccoon “Bandits” Mask

All raccoons have a black, or dark colored, mask that surrounds their eyes and temporal areas. This mask is so close in appearance to a robber or bandit’s mask, it has been referred to as this many times over. Although this is common knowledge to most, not many people know why raccoons are born with this “mask-like” strip of fur around their eyes. The reason is better night vision! The black mask enhances a raccoon’s vision at night.

Tree Climbing Ability

Raccoons climb trees very well, but for an animal of their size, this is quite unusual. The reason this is all possible is because raccoons retain the mind-boggling ability to rotate their hind legs! This amazing ability allows them to find protection from larger animals and prey on food easier.

An Incredible Sense of Touch

Raccoons retain explosive dexterity in their paws and claws. It can almost be compared to that of a human hand! Not only does this also aid in their impressive climbing ability, it also allows them to maneuver food, build dens, carry items, pry things open, and much more. These paws also have an incredible sense of touch. With a simple touch, raccoons can sense their surroundings.

Auditory Range and Hunting

Their dexterous paws allow raccoons to capture and handle their prey better than other mammals, but their auditory range plays a huge role in their hunting abilities. Because raccoons can hear sounds as low as 50 KHZ, they can easily hunt insects and small prey in the dead of night and darkness.

Raccoon for Dinner

Keep in mind that it requires a licensed and permit to kill, trap, or hunt wild raccoons; and raccoons should never be harmed, hurt, or tortured. In American, raccoons are not considered a tasty treat, but are often hunted or bred for their fantastic fur. But in some cultures, like that of some North American Indian tribes, barbequed raccoon is considered an elegant and exotic delicacy. What an interesting piece of knowledge!

Raccoon Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call our raccoon removal and control contractors at 502-553-7622 for more information about wild raccoons and raccoon prevention in Louisville, Kentucky. Our DNR licensed and insured wildlife control specialists provide prompt and professional raccoon removal, clean up, inspections, prevention, and more, all at the most competitive prices in town! When you need fast, reliable, and affordable raccoon removal in Louisville, KY, trust our DNR licensed contractors for safe, non-lethal service you can count on day or night.

Interesting Raccoon Facts and Fun Trivia!

There are so many interesting and fun facts about wild raccoons and their young. As a nature lover, it is only expected to be an admirer of such evolved, intelligent, and thrifty critters. Their capabilities truly set them apart from the other species of animal that share their natural habitats. To learn more interesting and exciting information about the common raccoon, continue reading and indulge yourself in useful raccoon trivia, truths, and facts!

Let’s Get Started!

What is the Scientific Name for a Wild Raccoon?

Raccoons are scientifically referred to as Procyon Lotor. This is a Latin term that loosely translates into “washer dog”. This could be because raccoons use their hands to “wash or rinse” their food in water before consuming it. Although it is not proven that this is the reason why raccoons douse their food before eating it, it has been a source for naming the species over the ages. It dates back to old Native American slang that describes raccoons as “ones who rubs and scratches with its hands”.

What Do Raccoons Eat?

The diets for wild raccoons in nature differ from the diets of raccoons living in urban and metropolitan areas. Raccoons in nature tend to feed mostly on fish, amphibians, insects, worms, invertebrates, bird eggs, and plant material. They are excellent at fishing but will eat anything that is easily attainable and tasty. In comparison, wild raccoons in suburban territories have become accustomed to a different palette of food. Raccoons have become experts at surviving in residential and urban areas following commercial development and construction. They like to rummage through trash cans and dumpsters for scraps of food; as well as, steal outdoor pet food, garage inventories, and more. They have become very good at these tasks that have proven well for survival.

How Long to Raccoons Live?

Raccoons are meant to live full lives up to twenty or more years; however, this mostly depends on their environment, territory, and plain luck. Because raccoons are known as pests in residential and commercial neighborhoods, they can be the target of inhumane animal trapping and hunting. This can certainly take off a few years of their life. Also, environmental conditions can influence the life expectancy of a wild raccoon. Available food sources, weather, and more can all determine how long a raccoon can survive in the wild.

Some people are raccoon pet owners who have successfully domesticated raccoons. These “pet” raccoons can live up to 20 or 30 years in captivity. When considering all the environmental and influential elements that raccoons can face, on average they live to be about two or three years old; however, in the wild, this number can more than double depending on nearby predators and other threats.

Raccoon Removal Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional raccoon removal in Louisville, Kentucky. With more than 20 years of experience, our technicians can provide a wide range of raccoon control services for all situations and properties. We are DNR licensed and insured, and committed to safe and humane raccoon removal and control. If you need Louisville raccoon control services for your residential or commercial property, call our office today at 502-553-7622 and get a free estimate in a matter of minutes!

A Raccoon on the Roof is Not a Good Sign

Raccoons are excellent climbers with nimble, dexterous paws, and they use these qualities to access rooftops in residential and urban areas. It is very common to spot raccoons on the roof at night, or just after sunset when it isn’t quite dark yet. This is the time of day when raccoons are either returning or leaving from wherever it is they are nesting. So this means if you see a raccoon on the roof, they are up to no good. Continue reading to learn why you might have raccoons on the roof, and how to safely and humanely get rid of them.

Raccoons and Roofs

If a raccoon is on a roof, it is most likely looking for a vulnerable area in the eaves or soffit to rip out and use as an access point to your attic. And if they are not looking for this, it is because they have already found it! Raccoons like to use these areas to create dens in order to breed and raise their young. Once their young is old enough to fend for themselves, they leave the nest to go look for one of their own. A raccoon on a roof is a blatant indication that you have raccoons in the attic or other area of your home that is accessible through the roof. And if you have raccoons on the roof and they haven’t access your home yet, they are looking to do so very soon. Raccoons don’t just climb for fun; they are either hunting, gathering, escaping danger, or looking for shelter. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring a raccoon on the roof!

In a little amount of time, raccoons can make a disastrous mess in your home. They tear down attic insulation to make nests and soil just about every surface area with droppings, birthing debris, and rotting food scraps. They also chew through electrical wiring, rip out floorboards and saturate ceilings with urine which causes stains and odors Needless to say, raccoons are capable of causing an extreme amount of structural damage and destruction if left alone.

Wildlife Rescue Services

Call a local wildlife rescue contractor for safe and humane raccoon removal services if you spot any on your roof or around your property. It is better to take precautionary measures rather than waiting for a disaster to fall into your lap. Never leave pet food outside, as raccoons love this and will return night after night for it; and always take your trash out the morning of garbage pickup day. These are just a few methods to keep raccoons off your property. Also consider having your siding, roof, windows, and doors inspected and properly sealed, as well as, installing motion sensor lighting outside to thwart raccoon activity.

Louisville Raccoon Removal

Call 502-553-7622 for professional raccoon removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained and experienced, DNR licensed wildlife rescue and control contractors that can remove raccoons safely and humanely at a low cost to you. We also provide minor attic restorations and repairs for raccoon damages, as well as, raccoon prevention, and much more. Call 502-553-7622 if you see raccoons on the roof in Louisville, KY right away.

The Effects of Raccoon Grubbing

Raccoons are crepuscular foragers, meaning they primarily venture out at dusk to look for food. And as nocturnal animals, they remain active throughout the night and call it quits just before dawn. That is why they are hardly caught-in-action during their mischievous endeavors. Rummaged trash cans, missing garden vegetables, fallen roof shingles, and empty pet dishes are just a few common signs of raccoon activity, but there is another that is far more frustrating for property owners. Raccoon grubbing is another distinguishable habit performed by wild raccoons. It leaves behind a mess that is only fixable with plenty of grass seed and time.

Backyard Grubs

Grubs are nuisance larvae that live in the ground and feed off of grass roots. Not only do grub populations cause grass to wilt and brown, they attract nuisance raccoons. Raccoons love these juicy, protein-rich worms and will go to great lengths to acquire them. This means they will relentlessly pull back chunks of sod and dig through the soil and clay for one delicious bite. And since raccoons have dexterous human-like paws, their nimble fingers can easily rip through lawns and sift through dirt to find a tasty meal. It only takes one or two raccoons to tear up an entire lawn in just one night.

Fixes

There are a few ways to fix this problem. To repair your lawn, you will need good-quality grass seed, fertilizer, and patience. After routine watering and fertilizing, your lawn will eventually get back to normal. As for the raccoons, you should first try to eliminate all of the things on your property that attract them there in the first place, starting with the grubs.

There are several types of grub control products available at any local garden or hardware store. Choose based on your preference, but be sure it is compatible with your landscape. They are relatively inexpensive, ranging in price from $4 to $20, depending on the size and brand. Apply the product to your lawn and hope for the best. If you cannot get the grubs under control, it may be wise to contact a lawn care company for professional grub removal.

Other attractions to eliminate may include bird baths, pet food, bird seed, squirrel feeders, open gardens, garbage, sitting pools of water, and small places to hide. By getting rid of these common raccoon attractions, you can also get rid of raccoons. If you have a raccoon in the attic or other area of your home, you need to call a local wildlife control company for safe and humane raccoon removal. These companies call also offer prevention services and cleanup.

Raccoon Removal Louisville

Call Raccoon Removal Louisville at 502-553-7622 for DNR licensed raccoon control services that are both safe and humane. We never harm or kill raccoons, and neither should you! Instead, enlist the services of our licensed wildlife rescue contractors for non-lethal raccoon exclusion and control. We don’t just get rid of raccoons, we also provide cleanup services and minor attic restorations from raccoon damages. Call 502-553-7622 for raccoon removal and control in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.

3 Steps for Preventing Raccoon Damages

Raccoons are capable of causing a significant amount of structural damages, and a longer list of other undesirable conditions, like odors, noise, clutter, droppings, and more. Structural damages can be costly, like insulation replacement and attic restorations. And raccoons can leave behind a huge mess of birthing debris, feces, urine, and rotting food scraps, which can all pose health problems to humans and pets.

For these reasons and more, it is important to do what you can to prevent raccoons from causing damage to your home. Continue reading to learn the three key steps to preventing raccoons damages altogether, around your home or property.

Raccoon Exclusion

The first step to prevent raccoon damages is to exclude raccoons from your home and surrounding property entirely. This is the best method for long-term raccoon control. Raccoon exclusion starts with professional raccoon removal services if you know there are already raccoons living inside your home or on your property. Professionals retain the proper licenses, training, and equipment to provide safe and non-lethal raccoon removal.

Modify the Surrounding Habitat

It is important to modify your property and surrounding habitat in order to keep raccoons away once they are removed. Modifications are meant to thwart raccoon trespassing by eliminating any sources of food or shelter. Remove any pet food or wildlife food (i.e. bird houses, bird seed, squirrel feeders, etc.), as well as, any sources of water (i.e. birdbaths, pet water bowls, standing water, etc.). Also, be sure to take your garbage cans out to the curb the same morning of trash pickup day. Leaving garbage cans unattended overnight is an open-buffet invitation for raccoons and more. You can also install motion-sense lighting, sound machines, and seal up any vulnerable or accessible openings in the exterior of the home, porch, and deck.

Hire Professional Raccoon Control Personnel

If you truly want to keep raccoons away for good, consider hiring a professional raccoon removal and control company for expert assistance you can trust. As mentioned, they have everything needed to provide a wide range of raccoon removal and control services in a safe and non-lethal manner. This includes exclusion, raccoon-proofing, raccoon cleanup, minor attic restorations, and more. They can provide these services both effectively and efficiently, finishing jobs in a time-frame that’s convenient for their clients.

Raccoon Removal and Control in Louisville, Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for professional raccoon removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky and its surrounding districts. We are DNR-licensed and insured raccoon removal contractors with decades of experience in the wildlife control industry. We offer residential and commercial raccoon control at the most competitive prices in town. Call 502-553-7622 to learn more about our Louisville raccoon removal and control services, today.

Conflicts between Raccoons and Humans

Raccoons are a familiar species of mammal here in the states. They are easily distinguishable with their black masks, human-like paws, and big bushy striped tails. Their distinctive features even make them attractive to us, especially as young pups. For this reason, many people are choosing to domesticate raccoons and make them pets!

But there is another side to the relationship we humans have with wild raccoons. There has been a long-time struggle to control the nuisances they can cause in residential and suburban areas. Continue reading to learn more about these struggles, and the common trouble’s raccoon’s cause for us and our homes.

Raccoon Problems in Suburban Neighborhoods

The problem with raccoons, when it really comes down to it, is that they are highly intelligent and persistent creatures. Their intellectual capacity and their ability to remember are extraordinary compared to all other nuisance wildlife. On top of these qualities, raccoons also have very dexterous, human-like hands that allow them to easily grasp, pry, pull, tear, climb, and much more. This combination succeeds in making a threatening nuisance animal. As for residential and suburban neighborhoods, raccoons are considered a problem for the mess and destruction they are capable of producing.

During cold seasons, but even warm ones too, raccoons will search for shelter to breed their young. The problem with this is that raccoons’ versions of shelter include our homes, attics, crawls spaces, porches, patios, sheds, garages, and several other areas of our properties. Once raccoons fund entry into one of these spaces, which they are really good at doing, they will make a huge mess. Their urine, droppings, and birthing debris will take over the entire surface area of the space they are using; and worse, these wastes seep through drywall, ceilings, and walls, leaving behind hideous stains and odors in the visible living quarters of our homes. Attic insulation often times gets torn down and used as nesting, and everything else gets used as a bathroom. Leftover food decays and rots, causing additional pest control issues like fruit flies, maggots, flies, and more. These repairs and messes can cost a lot of money to fix. Structural damages might require whole re-roofing projects, attic repairs, drywall repairs, floorboard replacement, and much more. As you can see, raccoons pose a huge problem for home and property owners. Fortunately, there is a way to combat these threats.

If your home or property is located in an area with a thriving raccoon population, it is wise to implement certain raccoon-proofing strategies that can save you a substantial amount of time and trouble down the line. These preventative maintenance methods include the following:

• Do not leave pet dishes or pet food outside or in the garage
• Install exterior automatic lighting or sprinklers
• Do not take garbage out the night before trash pickup
• Have property inspected for vulnerabilities and seal them
• Lock garage doors and patio doors at night
• Avoid bird feeders and bird baths on property
• Lock doggy or pet doors at night
• Contact a local raccoon removal and control service for professional assistance and advice

Raccoon Removal Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional raccoon removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained and DNR licensed raccoon control specialists that only use safe and humane methods to get rid of raccoons. We provide a wide range of services for residential and commercial properties. Call 502-553-7622 for affordable and fast raccoon removal services in Louisville, KY.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons in the Attic

If you have discovered raccoons living in your attic, then it is time to take some action. Raccoons are reason for concern when it comes to the structural integrity of your home. Their colonies will make a mess of any space they occupy. Their droppings will soak into sheet rock and saturate dry wall, their meal debris will accumulate and rot, they can chew through electrical wiring, and the odor from this can eventually seep into living quarters of the house. These reasons and more are why it is so vital to take immediate action to get rid of raccoons in your attic.

Raccoon Removal

In order to get rid of raccoons in the attic, professional attention is necessary for safe and effective control. Raccoons can carry diseases and even be aggressive if they are protecting their young. This means it should be left to an experienced professional to remove raccoons from any residential property. Never try to get rid of raccoons yourself. It can be dangerous and risky for someone unfamiliar with raccoon behavior, and who lacks proper equipment to carry out the job. A licensed professional knows the safe and humane way to remove raccoons and prevent them from coming back again. They also retain the proper equipment, knowledge, and experience to handle any situation.

So if you find raccoons in your attic, the first thing to do is call a licensed raccoon removal company for an estimate. Along with an estimate, they should be able to walk you through the process and inform you of everything you need to know relating to your situation. Some raccoon control specialists offer 24 hour emergency services and can be dispatched right away, while others can offer next-day responses. Either way, you’ll be informed of what actions to take while waiting for the professionals to arrive.

Next, the raccoon removal company will remove the raccoons from the attic. A licensed company should always use safe and humane methods to extract raccoons from attics and other areas of a home. Once this is done, there will most likely be a mess left behind. In this case, the raccoon control technicians will facilitate a cleanup, all while repairing and restoring the space back to its original condition.

When the removal and cleanup steps are complete, ask the company to recommend prevention tips to avoid further raccoon invasions. A licensed and professional raccoon control company can provide all the necessary preventative maintenance for your home, and seal up any vulnerable spots that raccoons could access. This way, you can rest assure you will not face this situation ever again!

Raccoon Control Louisville KY

For more information about getting rid of raccoons in the attic in Louisville, KY, call our professionals at 502-553-7622. We are highly trained and qualified to remove raccoons from residential and commercial properties. We have been serving the Kentucky communities for decades and always use safe and humane methods to extract raccoons.