What is Raccoon Distemper?

One of the leading causes of death among raccoon populations is a virus called Distemper. Although raccoons can become infected with the disease, there is no such thing as “raccoon distemper.” Instead, two kinds of distemper exist: feline distemper and canine distemper. Each one is caused by a different virus, but both can cause acute illness and death in animals. Continue reading to learn more about distemper, how it affects raccoons, and how to prevent your beloved pets from accidentally becoming infected.

Canine Distemper

Canine distemper is more common in raccoons than the feline version. Once infected, it progresses slowly, appearing initially as an upper respiratory infection. During this stage, raccoons will experience minor symptoms like runny noses and watery eyes. But soon after, the illness takes a harsh turn into conjunctivitis, which produces gastrointestinal complications, pneumonia, and extreme weight loss. Once this begins, raccoons will enter the final stages of the virus, which causes confusion, disorientation, and brain damage. Raccoons will evince strange behaviors during this stage, such as wobbling around, wandering aimlessly in a circle, and paralysis. This can happen sometimes during the day even though they are primarily nocturnal animals. Many people may confuse all of these signs with the Rabies virus, and understandably so, but to the trained eye, it is clearly distemper.

Feline Distemper

Feline distemper starts out differently than its canine version. Raccoons will experience high fevers and gastrointestinal complications (i.e. vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, etc.), followed by depression and a reduction in white blood cells (leukopenia). It takes less than a week’s time for Feline distemper to become fatal in animals.

Treating Distemper

Distemper in raccoons is primarily spread through bodily fluids and excretions, including blood, saliva, urine, and feces. This means it can travel and spread via airborne droplets or bodily contact. Unfortunately, there is no cure for distemper once an animal is infected with the virus. This is why it is so vital for pet owners to have their dogs and cats vaccinated on a yearly basis. Curious pets may come across an infected raccoon, skunk, or opossum at any time. Having the proper vaccinations protects their immune system from contracting the illness.

Raccoon Removal in Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 for raccoon removal services in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control contractors that provide safe and humane raccoon removal at an affordable price. We provide commercial and residential raccoon control in all surrounding counties. Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional raccoon removal and control in Louisville, KY today.

Reasons Why Dead Raccoon Removal is an Emergency

It is important to get rid of raccoons if they are frequent visitors to your property, and it is even more important to remove the ones that make it inside your home. Raccoons, although cute and clever, are unfortunately filthy and destructive. They can tear up lawns, damage woodwork and siding, rip off roof shingles, rip apart garbage cans, and much more; not to mention they carry infectious diseases that are harmful and potentially deadly to humans and pets, like Rabies and Parvo.

Live and active raccoons are a problem, but having dead raccoons in or around your home is an even bigger one. Continue reading to learn why dead raccoon removal is more difficult and why it is considered an emergency situation that calls for immediate attention by a licensed professional in the industry.

Dead Raccoon Removal

The problem with dead raccoons has to do with decomposition and pest problems. Many homeowners will make the mistake of excluding a raccoon from an area of their home, like the chimney, but this is a common mistake since most raccoons found indoors are nursing or raising offspring. Blocking a mother raccoon from entering back into a home solves one part of the problem, but there are still baby raccoons somewhere inside that will soon wander around, fall into air ducts and in between walls, and then die; eventually rotting, decaying, smelling, and producing maggot infestations. This is an even bigger project than simply removing the entire colony to begin with. This is why it is important to hire a licensed raccoon removal company for safe, humane, and effective service. They retain the proper tools, training, and resources to exclude raccoons all at once, and prevent their return. Some companies even offer minor attic and crawl space restorations for raccoon damage and droppings.

It is critical to have dead raccoons removed from a property as soon as they are evident or discovered. A dead raccoon will rot and smell, and eventually house thousands of maggots. This cleanup and restoration job will cost much more, and create an uncomfortable living environment for weeks at a time. A rotting carcass also houses diseases and bacteria that can be detrimental to our health and the health of any domesticated pets on the property. For these reasons and more, it is very important to have dead animals, like raccoons, removed from your property as soon as possible.

Raccoon Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for DNR licensed raccoon removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained and experienced raccoon control specialists that use only safe and humane methods to exclude or remove raccoons from residential and commercial properties. Our licensed contractors are happy to answer your questions about raccoon control and raccoon removal, anytime. Just call 502-553-7622 and speak with a Louisville raccoon removal and control technician about getting rid of raccoons in Kentucky, 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

Raccoon Removal Louisville Provides Fully-Insured Services for Residential and Commercial Properties

Raccoon Removal Louisville is a DNR licensed and insured company in Kentucky. We are highly trained and experienced raccoon control contractors that have been licensed by the Department of Natural Resources for more than thirty years! We offer a wide range of services for both residential and commercial properties; all of which are fully-insured and priced competitively! Raccoon Removal Louisville never harms or kills raccoons in the process of extraction. Instead, we only use safe and humane methods to remove raccoons and relocate them to a safe and faraway habitat.

Rest Assure Your Home or Property is in Good Hands with Fully-Insured Raccoon Removal Services in Louisville Kentucky!

Not only can we remove nuisance raccoons in the attic or other area within a property, we also provide preventative maintenance, raccoon-proofing, raccoon clean-up, emergency services, and even minor attic restorations for damages caused by raccoons. Call us at 502-553-7622 to learn more about their services and availability, today.
Raccoon Removal Louisville wants all property owners to feel safe and secure during the process of raccoon extraction. This is why we offer thoroughly consultations and assessment to explain their methods, billing, and more in a language that clients can understand.

You never have to worry about confusing industry jargon when you talk to our technicians. Call us directly, anytime, for company details and pricing information. Or call us directly at 502-553-7622 for questions about Louisville raccoon removal services, pricing, and more.

How Can I Afford Raccoon Removal Services in Louisville Kentucky?

When raccoons are becoming a nuisance on your property, or worse, you suspect you might have raccoons in the attic, it is vital to get professional wildlife control assistance right away. Many homeowners experience problems with raccoons, including structural damage and attic insulation damage. They frequently have anxiety about paying for such repairs and the costs associated with raccoon removal and control services. Fortunately, home and property owners don’t need to worry about their budgets any longer when they need animal removal services. Just count on Raccoon Removal Louisville for all your raccoon control and attic restoration needs!

Raccoon Property Damages

Raccoons can cause damage to the inner structures of our homes and buildings. They usually enter from above, like attics and roofs, and can make their way to the bottom of a home or property, overtime. The longer raccoons nest in a property, the more damage is likely or occur. Attic insulation is ripped down and used as nesting, drywall and floorboards become saturated with urine and droppings, leftover food debris decays and rots, and all of these can seep into ceilings and create undesirable odors throughout the living quarters of a home or property. Many people are afraid to see just how much these kinds of repairs will cost, but at Raccoon Removal Louisville, everyone can afford raccoon damage repair services and more!

Raccoon Removal Louisville

Raccoon Removal Louisville is fully insured and licensed company, and long-time BBB members. We take great pride in being a locally owned and operated business in Kentucky. This is why we offer the most competitive prices in town, guaranteed! Not only do we have the lowest prices for raccoon control and attic insulation repair, we are open to working with anyone’s budget! We are highly trained and qualified technicians that have more than 25 years of experience in the wildlife rescue and control industry.

You can trust that we never harm, kill, or trap wild animals under any circumstances. Instead, we use safe and humane methods to extract raccoons and prevent their return. We offer a wide range of services for both residential and commercial properties; including raccoon removal, raccoon cleanup, attic restoration and repair, raccoon proofing, and much more! We even provide emergency services, free estimates, and more. Call 502-553-7622 when you need prompt and professional raccoon removal services in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.

Six Reasons Why a Baby Raccoon Might Be Orphaned

It is common, especially in the springtime, to come across an orphaned baby raccoon or raccoons. In the months of March, April, and May, mother raccoons are generally birthing their young pups since the weather is warming up and the likelihood of survival is higher. However, during this time, people who live near forests or wooded areas might find a baby raccoon that seems to be lost from its colony and its mother.

If you ever spot an orphaned or baby raccoon on or around your property, contact a local raccoon removal service right away. Never attempt to touch, capture, trap, or hold a baby raccoon. They could be infected with contagious diseases, or not orphaned from their mother at all. It requires the licensing, permits, training, and proper resources of a professional to safely and humanely remove raccoons, orphaned or not. Continue reading to learn why you might have seen a baby raccoon without its mother, and the most common reasons why raccoon pups become orphaned to begin with.

Raccoon Pups

Raccoon pups are very small in their first few weeks of life. In fact, they are born with their eyes still shut. Even when their eyes open for the first time, they are still not un-weaned from their mother’s milk. They are irresistibly adorable and cute-looking, which is why many raccoon pups are kidnapped from their natural habitat and made to be house pets for people who do not understand the importance of raccoons living in their own environment. Just because a baby raccoon is not with its mother does not always mean it is abandoned. Once baby ‘coons open their eyes, they begin to wander out with their mother while she hunts for food. If the mother takes a detour, or goes somewhere the baby cannot, it may look like the pup is alone or abandoned, but they are simply waiting for their mother to return from her duties. Keep this in mind next time you spot one and feel the urge to take it home. Don’t do it!

Here are the 6 most common scenarios of why raccoon pups are orphaned, abandoned, or alone:

1. Family Dog Finds it and Decides to Bring it Home

2. Mother is Missing, Dead, Trapped, or Gone

3. The Den Site Was Destroyed or Disrupted

4. Mother is on the Move (either for food or from predators) and Open-Eyed Baby is Waiting for Her Return

5. Den Site is Too Warm During the Day and Pups Need a Breather

6. Predators Found the Den Site and Baby Pup Managed to Escape or Left Behind

Contact a local Louisville Raccoon Removal company for safe and humane raccoon control services. They can remove baby raccoons and relocate them to a faraway and safer habitat. They retain the proper tools, licenses, and training to perform any raccoon removal and control service for residential and commercial properties.

Raccoon Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt, safe, and humane raccoon removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained and licensed wildlife removal contractors that specialize in raccoon control. We offer a wide range of services, from raccoon cleanup to minor attic renovations and repair, raccoon-proofing, and more. Call 502-553-7622 for a free estimate regarding raccoon removal and control in Louisville, KY today.

Now is the Time to Beware of Potential Raccoon Infestations

Winter is around the corner, and Fall is already upon us. This means that hibernating, or breeding mammals are looking for safe shelter until Spring is here again. In suburban or city areas, raccoons and other animals are forced to find shelter in residential and commercial properties due to land over-development and lack of outdoor space. So this time of year is when most raccoon infestations begin.

Because raccoons are so intelligent, they are very capable of remembering where dominant food sources are located, and how to gain access into a warm and cozy environment. Continue reading to learn how to combat this problem with effective preventative maintenance and raccoon-proofing strategies for your home or office.

Raccoon-Proofing

Raccoon infestations can cause an excessive, smelly mess of urine, breeding debris, and droppings, as well as, extensive structural damages and more. A messy raccoon infestation calls for a professional animal removal service that specializes in raccoons. They retain the proper tools, equipment, licensing, and training to accurately assess a raccoon problem, and render safe, effective, and humane raccoon control services. This is what you should do if you suspect you already have a raccoon infestation in your attic, crawl space, walls, or outdoor area of your property.

In order to prevent raccoons in the attic, or any other type of raccoon infestation or problem, implement some easy DIY techniques to thwart wildlife from trespassing onto your property. For example, remove all pet food dishes from outside. Pet food, bird seed, and gardens are all huge attractions and treats for raccoons and other wild animals. Remove bird feeders and pet food, and you have begun the journey to a raccoon-free life.

Also, never take your garbage outside to the driveway the night before trash pickup. Raccoons are scavengers and will rip through all your garbage for scraps of food and nesting material. This means you wake up to a huge mess in your driveway, plus a guarantee return from your new four-legged friends. They will remember your yard as a food source and return for more. By removing these attractions, you can make raccoons lose interest in your property. Last, have a professional Louisville raccoon removal company implement professional inspection and sealing services to ensure your home is free from vulnerabilities that would allow raccoons to gain entry inside. Things like broken doors, hinges, loose roof shingles, and more can be fixed to prevent accessibility.

Louisville Raccoon Removal

Call 502-553-7622 for professional raccoon removal services in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained and DNR licensed Louisville raccoon removal contractors with decades of experience in the industry. We offer a wide range of services for raccoon control and raccoon damages. We also offer free estimates, emergency services, and more. Call us at 502-553-7622 and speak with a live and friendly raccoon control specialist about raccoon removal in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.

Do Raccoons Hibernate?

Before asking ourselves if raccoons hibernate or not, let’s discuss what hibernation actually means and what it entails. When a mammal hibernates, they go into a deep sleep for the duration of winter and cold months. During this time, their body temperature drops and physical activity comes to a stop; lowering their heart rates and preserving energy. When comparing this behavior with the habits of the raccoon species, you will see that they do not actually hibernate. Instead, raccoons show signs of lethargy or torpor during colder seasons.

Raccoon Hibernation

During winter in colder regions of the country, some raccoon species will partake in behaviors similar to hibernation, but not hibernation at all. They may take up and stay in their dens for several weeks at a time; sleeping or remaining stagnant, lowering their body temperatures and heart rates too. They may only venture out a few times a week to hunt for food and find water. This is similar to a habit called torpor, and is what bears essentially do.

In milder regions of the country that still experience snow and winter months, raccoons will also seek shelter for extended periods of time. Local or urban raccoons will seek out shelter in residential or commercial properties, while raccoons in nature will find dens or burrows to live in. They come out a few times a day or week to find food and water, because without food, they can lose up to half of their body weight in a winter’s time. This is why raccoons eat a larger amount of food in late summer and throughout fall. They do this to store body fat as protection against harsh elements and scarce food sources in the winter.

Raccoons in the winter are common nuisances to home and property owners located near wooded areas. This is because raccoons use vacant buildings, attics, sheds, crawl spaces, garages, porches, and more as shelter during harsh winter climates. If raccoons cannot find a hollow tree, log, or old animal burrow, they will search for warmth and protection in our homes! This is where a licensed Louisville raccoon removal specialists can help. They retain the proper tools, resources, and training to safely and humanely remove raccoons and prevent them from coming back.

Raccoon Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt raccoon removal in Louisville, Kentucky today. We are highly trained and DNR licensed raccoon removal specialists with decades of experience in the wildlife rescue and control industry. We provide a wide range of raccoon control services for residential and commercial properties in Kentucky. We offer free estimate, 24 emergency services, and the most competitive prices in town! Call 502-553-7622 for licensed and insured raccoon removal services in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties today.

Raccoon Diseases and Parasites

Just like all other mammals all across the globe, raccoons are susceptible to disease, illness, and parasites. In fact, raccoons can be subjected to almost any disease a human can be subjected to, and vice versa. This is why we humans must steer clear of wild animals at all costs (no matter how cute and cuddly they appear), and to also prevent wild animal encounters involving our beloved pets. Any wild animal can be infected or be a carrier of disease or illness. Even if you are sure an animal will not attack (which you can NEVER be sure of, by the way), a bite is not the only way a diseased animal can pass along their sickness.

So always keep your distance from a wild animal; even if it’s injured, trapped, or just a baby. Instead, contact a local wildlife rescue and control service for professional and safe assistance. They retain the proper licensing, equipment, tools, and training to safely and humanely remove or help a wild animal. Wild animals such as mice, rats, bats, raccoons, opossum, birds, snakes, rabbits, deer, and more are all common carriers of diseases and parasites. Health consequences can range from death or congestive heart failure, to a simple common cold. Continue reading to learn more about raccoons and the illness they can carry and pass on to humans and pets.

Rabies

Rabies is one of the most familiar diseases associated with wild raccoons. It is also one of the most serious illnesses that can be passed on to humans, cats, dogs, and other mammals. Raccoons can carriers of the disease and never once show a sign or symptom; while many others become infected and soon die from the disease. This is because Rabies incubates within an animal for quite some time before taking over, if at all. Signs of rabies in a raccoon include erratic behavior, walking around during the daytime hours, shaking or convulsing, foaming at the mouth or drooling, wobble-like walking, heightened aggression, and any other form of strange or questionable behavior. If you, your pet, or a loved one has come into contact with a raccoon that may have rabies, seek medical attention immediately. It is strongly encouraged to have your pets vaccinated annually, as well.

Distemper

The second leading cause of death for raccoons is distemper. Canine distemper and feline distemper can both infect and kill wild raccoons, but are both caused by different viruses. The canine distemper illness is extremely contagious and mostly affects larger raccoon colonies. Once infected, the illness starts off slow and begins to affect the respiratory system. Watery eyes and running noses are common signs of this illnesses. Other signs include pneumonia-like symptoms, diarrhea, thin body, aimless wandering, disorientation, and paralysis. It is spread through contact of bodily fluids, as well as, inhalation or digestion of airborne droplets. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for Distemper. This is why preventative maintenance is vital in order to protect yourself and your pets.

Roundworm

Raccoon roundworm is a common parasitic disease that is highly contagious and easily transmitted. It is transmitted through the eggs in feces. Coming into contact with anything that has had contact with infected raccoon feces faces infection as well. These roundworms are found in the large intestine of raccoons. It can be passed from animal to animal, or animal to human. This is another reason to steer clear of wild raccoons!

Louisville Raccoon Removal Services

Call 502-553-7622 for professional and punctual Louisville raccoon removal services for all Kentucky counties. We are highly trained and DNR licensed raccoon control specialists with decades of experience in the wildlife removal industry. We use safe and humane methods to extract raccoons, and never harm or kill them. We offer free estimates, free advice, raccoon information, and 24 hour emergency services! Call 502-553-7622 for licensed raccoon removal and control in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.

Signs of a Raccoon Infestations Indoors

When raccoons invade our personal spaces, they can quickly become a costly nuisance. If you believe you have a raccoon infestation in your home, it is strongly encouraged to immediately contact licensed animal removal authorities for safe and humane extraction services. They retain the proper equipment, knowledge, and industry training to safely remove raccoons from your home without jeopardizing the rest of your property. Continue reading to learn how to identify a raccoon infestation, and who to call for reliable and effective raccoon control services.

Raccoon Control

There are several indications that point to raccoon invasions. Attics, crawl spaces, garages, rooftops, sheds, and beneath porches are all favorite hiding places for wild raccoons. These areas are the ones you want to pay attention to first. Look for signs of property damages, missing household items, strange odors, and anything else out of the ordinary. Here is a more complete list of signs that suggest you may have a raccoon in your home or office:

• Strong Foul Odors
• Torn Drywall
• Animal Droppings
• Food Scraps
• Scattered Garbage
• Strange Noise at Night
• Missing Items
• Ripped or Soiled Insulation
• Missing Pet Food
• And More

If you have a raccoon in the attic, or anywhere else on your property, you need professional raccoon removal promptly. The longer a raccoon colony, or even just one raccoon, is in your home, to more damages will accrue and the repair and restoration costs will increase. Be sure to choose a licensed Louisville Raccoon Control service that has an accomplished and respected reputation in your home town. They should be able to offer free estimates without tacking on hidden fees or surprise costs. Ask about current specials, applicable discounts, and complimentary services so you know you are getting the best deal around.

Louisville Raccoon Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 right away for superior and affordable raccoon control services and solutions in Louisville, Kentucky and its nearby counties. We are DNR licensed and insured animal removal specialists that have specialized in raccoon control for more than 25 years! We offer a wide variety of services; such as raccoon cleanup, minor attic and crawl space restorations, residential and commercial services, raccoon-proofing and prevention, home inspections, and much more. We also offer free estimates, coupons, discounts, and emergency raccoon removal. Call 502-553-7622 and speak with a live raccoon removal and control technician in Louisville, KY about getting rid of raccoons, today.