How to Keep Raccoons Out of the Chimney

Raccoons are known to use residential homes and commercial buildings to breed, nurse their young, and acquire shelter from inclement weather, predators, and more. One area that is a common target for raccoons is the chimney. Chimneys are often overlooked when implementing pest-proofing strategies for one’s home, especially if they are not used very often. But whether you are a regular fireplace user or not, it is wise to figure out an effective way to keep raccoons out of the chimney. Raccoons can cause costly structural damages to roofs and chimneys, as well as, carry parasites, spread infectious diseases, and pose several other types of danger to humans and pets. Continue reading for a guide to raccoon-proofing a chimney and who to call for expert advice or professional assistance.

Get Rid of Raccoons in the Chimney

Raccoons can block up the chimney flue with breeding debris, nesting materials, and more. If the flue is closed, animals cannot access the chimney; but, they may still reside on the roof causing shingle damages and perhaps gain entry into an attic space. This means simply closing the flue will not stop a raccoon problem entirely. For frequent raccoon sightings, it is important to outsource the services of a professional raccoon removal company for safe and humane assistance. Unblocking a chimney flue is just one service they will provide for raccoons in chimneys. After that comes raccoon education and preventative maintenance. Ask your local raccoon control technician for details about getting rid of raccoons in chimneys and other areas of a home or property.

As for chimneys, the best way to keep raccoons out of them while still being able to enjoy your fireplace from time to time, is to purchase a chimney cap. Chimney caps work great for preventing wild animal access into chimneys when the flue is open. They are designed to cover the openings of chimneys with a wire mesh, allowing smoke to escape but preventing raccoons from entering. Chimney caps come in two styles: inside mount or single flue. You must measure the perimeter of the inside and outside of the chimney so you can purchase a cap that fits. They are inexpensive, found at most hardware stores, and easy to install on your own. Keep in mind that they need to be replaced each season, as they will endure natural wear and tear, decreasing their effectiveness.

Raccoon Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional raccoon removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky and its surrounding neighborhoods. We are DNR licensed and experienced raccoon removal technicians with more than 20 years of experience in the wildlife rescue and control industry. We remove raccoons from chimneys, attics, walls, crawl spaces, patios, decks, porches, garages, roofs, and much more! No matter where your raccoon problem is, our team is fully-equipped to solve it for you fast! Call 502-553-7622 for more information about our raccoon removal services in Louisville, KY today.

Kentucky Trapping Rules for Raccoons

Raccoons are smart, agile, and interesting mammals. Although generally woodland and forest dwellers in this region of the country, wild raccoons are becoming more and more comfortable living among humans in urban, city, and rural areas. They have come to learn overtime that these areas offer plentiful sources of food and shelter. For this reason, raccoons have become more of a nuisance wildlife problem for home and property owners.

Raccoons cause structural damages to lawns and properties, and pose health risks for humans and pets. They are not a welcome visitor and for good reason. Not only can raccoons carry deadly and infectious diseases that can be transmitted to other mammals, they can attack or leave behind massive and costly messes in attics, sheds, garages, porches, crawl spaces, and more.

Furbearers in Kentucky

In Kentucky, raccoons are classified as “furbearers.” Under state law, if wild raccoons are damaging or harming a property, landowners or their tenants have the legal right to trap or take them at any time. Outside of one’s property, Hoosiers can obtain a hunting or trapping license and take raccoons during the appropriate season. This goes for all furbearers, including foxes, coyotes, skunks, beavers, opossum, muskrats, mink, and weasels.

The law mandates that all trapped furbearers must be relocated within the same county, or euthanized. A person cannot relocate and release a trapped raccoon on another person’s property without the permission of the actual property owner. It also decrees that any tenant or property owner that traps and relocates or euthanizes a wild raccoon for these reasons is legally obligated to report this catch to the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources (KDNR) within 72 hours of trapping.

If you have nuisance raccoons on your property, or somewhere within, call a licensed Louisville raccoon control service for safe and humane assistance.

Louisville Raccoon Removal

Call Louisville Raccoon Removal at 502-553-7622 for prompt and humane service you can trust. We are DNR licensed raccoon control contractors with decades of experience in the wildlife rescue and control industry. We offer a wide range of services, for both residential and commercial properties, all at the most competitive prices in town. Call 502-553-7622 for safe and humane raccoon removal services in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.

Emergency Raccoon Removal and Control 502-553-7622
Emergency Raccoon Removal and Control 502-553-7622

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.

3 Tips That Will Protect Your Home from Raccoons

There are countless stories talked about all over the nation regarding wild animal damages and raccoon infestations in residential neighborhoods. Raccoons are intelligent and fascinating creatures, but unfortunately, they are highly capable of property damages and destruction. Many people wonder how they got stuck with a raccoon problem in the first place. Everyone wants to know why raccoons are trespassing onto their properties, and what they can do to get rid of them. The bad news is that raccoons are prevalent and are not going away any time soon; but the good news is that there are three magical tips that can truly prevent wildlife trespassers at night. Continue reading to learn what these three tips are, and who to call on for professional raccoon removal and control in your town.

Garbage Cans and Waste Containers

One of the main reasons why raccoons visit a property over and over again, is that they are intelligent and capable of remembering where all the neighborhood food sources are located. This means homes with amply-filled garbage bins, trash cans, and waste containers. Yes, we like to bring our trash cans out to the driveway the night before trash day; however, this is like placing an open invitation for raccoons and other wildlife to come and dine for free. Not only should you not take your garage out too soon, you should remove all outdoor trash receptacles altogether. Patio trash cans and waste containers can also attract nuisance wildlife to a property. Just remember that our garbage is their best meal. Take this away from them, and they will begin to look for food elsewhere.

Pet Food

One of the other main reasons why nuisance wildlife becomes a frequent problem for homeowners has to do with pet food. It is highly recommended to remove any outdoor pet food from your property. This includes bags of pet food stored in a garage or shed, outdoor dog or cat dishes, and even squirrel and bird feed. All of these foods are the ultimate jackpot for raccoons. Dog and cat food is a tasty treat, and if raccoons find a home with a consistent supply, they will return night after night for more.

Sealing Access Points

One of the most important and effective ways to prohibit wild raccoons from entering your home is to have its vulnerable and weak spots sealed. This means hiring a professional Louisville Raccoon Control company to repair any cracks or crevices in doors, windows, gates, garages, and more. It also means having rooftops and shingles inspected, sealed, and replaced to remove openings and access points. Raccoons have very dexterous paws that allows them to easily open or pry things. Making sure there is nothing to pry open in your home is a safe way to ensure wildlife cannot get inside.

Louisville Raccoon Removal

Call 502-553-7622 for professional Louisville raccoon removal services today. We are highly trained and DNR licensed raccoon control specialists with decades of experience in the wildlife removal industry. We offer a wide range of services for residential and commercial properties; including raccoon removal, control, prevention, proofing, cleanup, attic restorations, and more. Call 502-553-7622 and receive the most accurate and professional raccoon removal services in Louisville, KY today.