Raccoons are deceptively cute creatures. Without any context or idea of their problematic nature, one might assume that they can be house trained. Although this is partly true, raccoons are naturally disruptive and destructive pests. If you regularly have trouble with these trash pandas around your Chatham Country property and are looking for some practical solutions to keep raccoons away from your Pooler home, here is what you should know.
Identifying A Raccoon
A raccoon is a stocky mammal with a white face, striped tail, and a distinct black mask that stretches over its eyes and across its nose. Weighing in at 7 to 30 pounds and able to grow up to three feet long, this heavily furred musteloid is a common pest found around Chatham County properties.
Where Are Raccoons Found?
Raccoons are commonly found around wooded areas and prefer to live near bodies of still or running water. These masked bandits sleep inside the hollow of trees, ground burrows, rock crevices, and underbrush piles during the day. Around properties, raccoons might find shelter beneath porches, inside outbuildings, around crawl spaces, and in other secluded areas.
Why Raccoons Invade Properties
Raccoons are opportunist creatures that look for easy ways to find food, water, and shelter. If they could find a way to be our pets to get three square meals a day and a sheltered place to live, they would take the opportunity in a heartbeat. The only problem is that raccoons do not make the best house guests and regularly get into trouble.
This reality is evident in how they knock over trash cans, climb into dumpsters, and pull apart gardens to get a bite to eat. Only thinking of themselves, these pests will do practically anything to stay fed and hydrated and find shelter. They can even find their way into your attic. If your property offers them these necessities, they will find every reason to stick by.
Are Raccoons Dangerous?
Raccoons are relatively dangerous pests that spread sickness in many ways. The first way is through fecal matter and urine, which is often teeming with disease-causing organisms. These sickness vectors are left around homes and on the food raccoons scavenge. The second way is through a bite or scratch.
If a raccoon around your home has rabies and becomes aggressive, it only takes one scratch or bite for you to get sick. Finally, raccoons carry fleas and ticks; these tiny blood-feeding pests are their own vectors for dangerous diseases, which they regularly spread to humans and animals.
Prevention Tips For Raccoons
Preventing raccoons takes a fair amount of effort and knowledge. If you are willing to put in the work, here is what you need to know:
- Repair damage to the exterior of your home and outbuildings.
- Keep your lawn and landscaping well maintained.
- Remove clutter and debris from your yard.
- Eliminate sources of standing water around your property.
- Make sure your gutters are working correctly and not holding water.
- Clean up thoroughly after outdoor gatherings.
- Avoid feeding your pets outdoors.
- Place bird feeders in areas raccoons cannot gain access to them.
What To Do When Raccoons Cause Trouble Around Your Property
If you are having trouble with raccoons around your Chatham County property, your best option is calling a professional. At Prestige Pest Control, we offer consultation and control services for wildlife problems like raccoons. Whether you are just looking for some advice or trying to find a way to remove these pests from your property, we should be your first choice.
Reach out to us today for any questions you have and schedule your property for a detailed pest inspection.