Raccoons may seem cute, but they can also cause property damage to your home. They’re known for rummaging through trash cans and other areas where food is found.
Taking measures to prevent raccoons from entering your property in the first place is an excellent way to deal with the problem. Trapping and moving a single raccoon, however, does not address the underlying cause of the problem.
Risk of Injury
Raccoons can cause significant property damage when they invade homes, buildings, and yards. They raid garbage cans and make a mess in the garden. They leave claw marks on siding and roofing materials and rip up bird feeders. They also chew through electrical wires, creating a fire hazard and increasing the risk of disease transmission.
Professional raccoon removal in Toronto – safely and effectively remove raccoons requires specialized equipment and knowledge of wildlife behavior. Untrained individuals may harm the animal or separate its helpless babies from its mother, exposing them to disease and possibly leading to death.
You should block the entry points into your house and yard to prevent raccoons from invading your porch and home. This should include the attic, vents, chimneys, and other openings. You can also use a motion sensor and loud, sudden noises to scare away raccoons. You can also try preparing DIY substances that repel them, such as soaking old rags in an ammonia solution or apple cider.
Risk of Disease
Raccoons can carry dangerous diseases that can be spread to humans and pets through bites and scratches. The feces of these wild animals can also contain pathogenic bacteria. Removing a raccoon with DIY techniques can be very dangerous and put people at risk of serious injuries.
Attempting to poison a raccoon, for example, is inhumane and illegal in many areas. Using a firearm to kill the animal is also dangerous and could lead to significant injuries and property damage. These methods are usually ineffective and won’t prevent raccoons from returning to the area.
The best course of action is often to exclude the animals from the home. Seal all gaps and holes in the house, remove anything that may attract them, such as pet food or birdseed, and keep trees and shrubs away from the house. It’s also a good idea to install a chimney cap and seal any holes in the roof or attic.
Risk of Property Damage
Raccoons can wreak havoc on homes and gardens. They are known to scavenge through trash cans, chew through electrical wires, and dig up gardens for their food. They can also leave behind bacteria-laden droppings and other debris. Raccoons may even enter the walls and attics of a home, which can lead to severe water and structural damage.
Attempting to scare raccoons away from properties is often ineffective. A need for food, shelter, and water drives them. While they usually abandon their den if they are scared of it, they will soon return to it once they have everything they need on your property.
Instead, homeowners should focus on removing attractants and creating barriers that separate them from their yards and homes. They should also seal any potential entry holes and trim trees and bushes to reduce their hiding places. They should also use wildlife control services that follow humane and safe trapping and relocation practices.
Risk of Injuries to Pets
Raccoons are highly productive and frequently transmit viruses or parasites that might endanger humans’ health. They also leave behind droppings and urine, which can contain harmful bacteria or viruses that could cause illness if inhaled or ingested. Professional wildlife removal experts have the safety and sanitation protocols to handle these animals safely.
Raccoons can do significant damage if they get into homes. Repairs could cost thousands of dollars and pose a health risk to family members and pets.
Homeowners should never attempt DIY raccoon removal, as these methods are dangerous and put them at risk of injury and disease. Instead, they should contact a humane wildlife removal company that can trap the raccoons with one-way doors, ensure no babies are left behind, and seal entry points to prevent future re-entry.
