How to Stop Raccoons From Harming Your Property

Wild raccoons can pose a threat to humans and pets if paths are crossed at the wrong times. This is because raccoons, along with other wild animals, can carry infectious diseases. These diseases and infections can be quickly passed along through a possible bite, scratch, or attack. A raccoon will attack out of self-defense or to protect it’s young. Even if raccoon bites and confrontation are avoided, there are other ways raccoons can be dangerous for us and our pets.

You see, raccoon urine and droppings can also carry infections and bacteria that are harmful if accidentally or unknowingly ingested. Dogs and cats are known to track traces of raccoon droppings into the house where it can come in contact with everyone and spread quickly among the family. Illnesses such as roundworm, Rabies, Leptospirosis, and more are commonly spread by raccoons. So how can you protect your home from wild raccoons and avoid potential dangers? 

Continue reading and learn some simple and full-proof methods to protecting your home from raccoons and other wild animals.

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

Raccoon Prevention 101

There are several quick tips on how to stop raccoons from entering your property.  Things like everyday chores, pet care routines, and simple handy work can all be a good place to start making changes.  For example, one way to keep raccoons away from your property is to thwart their desire to come in the first place. This means stop doing things that make raccoons interesting in visiting your house.  Don’t leave garbage cans outside and easily accessible to raccoons.  They are scavengers at heart and can smell food scraps from miles away. 

If you are in the habit of taking your garbage out the night before trash day, it is good idea to stop. Raccoons will come and they will remember your home as a dependable source of food; so they will return night after night seeking more opportunities you are giving away.  Leaving pet food dishes outdoors is like feeding raccoons directly, night after night.  Raccoons love the taste of pet food and will come back every night for it.  It is always recommended to leave pet food inside in a secure place.

Another factor that attracts raccoons to residential areas is shelter availability.  Loose shingles in the roof, cracks in the attic window seals, and unlocked sheds or garages become a raccoon colonies dream come true in poor weather.  They will seek out warm shelter anywhere around their food sources.  This means your house.  To prevent raccoons from squeezing their way inside your home, take out the old tool belt and implement a little home maintenance.  Secure locks, seal windows, fix any loose roof shingles, and more.  This can help protect your home and keep raccoons away for good.

The best way to prevent raccoons from entering your property is to make sure they do not already have access inside.  Call a professional raccoon control company to inspect your property for signs of raccoon infestations and damages. The sooner you find raccoon problems, the less expensive and extensive the damages and repairs will be.  A professional can also facilitate proper raccoon-proofing strategies that will eliminate raccoon invasions altogether.

Louisville Raccoon Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 for safe and humane Louisville raccoon removal and control services you can trust. 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 to request a free estimate or information about Louisville raccoon control, today.

Louisville Raccoon Removal and Control

Common Raccoon Entry Points on Roofs

Raccoon Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Raccoon Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Raccoons are highly-intelligent mammals with an exceptional ability to climb, grasp, and even solve problems. This makes them the perfect trespasser in urban and suburban localities. Due to land over-development, raccoons are being forced out of their natural habitat, and into our city and housing areas. There, they do whatever it takes to feed themselves and raise their young. And in most cases, our properties are the main target. Raccoons use their nature-given abilities to gain entry into homes and buildings, where they nest, reproduce, feed, sleep, defecate, and more.

This type of raccoon activity has a negative impact on both the structural integrity and safety of a property. The damages caused by raccoons can be extensive and costly, ranging from torn or soiled attic insulation, to ripped floor boards, stained ceilings and walls, chewed electrical wiring, and more. One of the most common areas for raccoons to invade are attics, because they are easily accessible from the roof. Continue reading to learn three of the most common entry points on a roof, and better protect your property from raccoon damages.

Dormer Eaves

Dormer eaves are basically the area of the roof that hangs over the side of the house or building. The opening that is exposed on the side is covered with a soffit of some sort, to keep animals out and for aesthetic purposes. When a rooftop extends a little beyond the side of the property like this, it creates a perfect and highly-appealing cubby hole for raccoons. And since they are clever mammals with extremely dexterous paws, they can easily rip off the soffit and gain entry into this area. Once they are inside the dormer, they can simply tear through the insulation and get inside the attic.

Roof Line Transitions and Roof Vents

Not all properties have dormer eaves, so raccoons use another common roof area to access attics. When roofs are not entirely flat, they have different shapes and heights. In these places, the roof line changes and transitions into another part of the roof. Here at these gaps of roof are where raccoons enter a home or building. Roof vents are a favorite for raccoons because they are just basically holes in a roof. And for raccoons, that means doorways into an attic. They can easily rip off or pry through roof vents and get inside the attic. If you notice signs of damage to your roof vents, it is a sure sign of attempted or successful raccoon entry.

Chimneys

Not all properties have chimneys either; but the ones that do are easy targets for nuisance wildlife, especially raccoons. Chimneys can be a source of easy access for raccoons if the proper preventative measures are not taken. Raccoons can easily climb up and down the flue, so they will almost always try the chimney first for quick entry into a home or property. If you do not keep the flue closed, or invest in a steel chimney cap, you could allow raccoons inside too.

Louisville Raccoon Control You Can Trust

Louisville Raccoon Removal

Louisville Raccoon Removal 502-553-7622

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, today.