Lucas Beaumont
Raccoons in the wild – OK. Raccoons in the attic – not OK. These interesting little “bandits” might appear to be cute when we see them in the woods or see them from a distance. But raccoons are aggressive and intelligent scavengers who can make a mess or even cause serious damage if left unchecked.
Raccoons spend a good deal of their time looking for something to eat and making sure they have a comfortable place to sleep. The attic in your home can be a perfect hideaway for raccoons, so you will probably have to take some steps to get rid of them.
Understand Their Intentions
Ask yourself what season of the year the raccoons seem to become an “attic” problem. If you find that they have moved in during the months of March, April and May, for example, you probably have a mother raccoon that is using your attic as a safe place to raise a family. This location keeps the raccoons safe from predators and from inclement weather.
Since raccoons are wild animals you will probably notice that they use your attic for their “bathroom” as well as for a place to sleep. Raccoons come in from the outdoors with various types of pests, including fleas and ticks. They may also be carrying diseases that could present a health problem for human beings. All of this can happen, in addition to physical damage to the home (tearing up insulation, chewing on wires etc.)
What Can I Do?
The best bet for getting rid of raccoons in your attic is this: call a professional animal-removal service or a trapper who knows how to deal with wild animals. Most of the gimmicks and tricks you read about or hear about don’t work. Raccoons will probably have to be caught in traps and removed to the wild, far from your home.
It’s best to find someone who is experienced and thorough. Make sure the professional doesn’t just trap the mother or another adult raccoon that leaves the house to get food. That might eliminate one raccoon and leave a group of young animals in the attic to make noise and create havoc for you and your family.
To keep raccoons away from your property you should keep the home and grounds clean. This animal will eat almost anything – fruits, meats, fish, insects, mice etc. A clean home and property will be less enticing to raccoons. In addition, you should make sure that any openings and cracks in your home are sealed up right away. Don’t give the raccoons a way to get into your attic in the first place.
If you decide to trap the raccoons on your own, use good-quality traps and bait them with tuna or cat food from a can. These items have an aroma that will attract raccoons. Be very careful when handling a trap that has a raccoon inside. They will bite and can be very aggressive! When it comes to raccoons in the attic, prevention is always the best bet.
