Raccoons are well-known pests in residential areas. You might not see them, but you’ll notice evidence of them digging through your trash and making homes in your yard or attic. Wildlife pests can be hard to get rid of on your own, which is why 911 Wildlife is here to help. We offer pest control in Houston to keep you and your home safe. Contact us today to learn more.
What Kind Of Animal Is A Raccoon?
Raccoons are omnivorous mammals, which means they eat just about anything. They’re typically two to three feet long and have distinctive gray and black markings. Most identifiable is the “mask” around a raccoon’s eyes and the rings around its tail.
Raccoons in Houston are primarily nocturnal but can be seen during the day. These animals usually live in forested areas, making dens in hollow trees, ground burrows, or clumps of brush. They also sometimes move into parts of homes, such as chimneys and attics.
Are Raccoons Dangerous To Have Around My Yard?
There are a few issues raccoons can cause when they’re living near your home. The first is property damage. Raccoons damage homes when they try to get inside, even pulling shingles off roofs. They’re also notorious for getting into outdoor garbage cans.
Raccoons are also carriers of multiple diseases, including rabies. Although not every raccoon is rabid, the species is one of the biggest carriers of the disease in the United States. Rabid raccoons will exhibit various symptoms, including disorientation, aggression, loud or unusual noises, and foaming at the mouth. Raccoons also carry roundworm, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and E. coli bacteria.
Why Are Raccoons Attracted To My Yard?
Raccoons come to homes seeking out food, water, and shelter. To keep raccoons away from your yard, taking steps to make your home less hospitable to raccoons is essential.
- Tightly cover outdoor garbage cans
Outdoor trash cans are an easy target for raccoons. If they can get into a can, they’ll find all the food scraps there, and they will see your home as a food source. If possible, keep your garbage bins in a locked area, such as in a garage or shed. Raccoons can learn to open containers, so it’s best to use an animal-proof lid on trash receptacles.
- Repair potential entry points into your home
Broken vents, open chimneys, and holes in the walls or roof of your home can all provide entry to raccoons and other pests. Loose shingles or siding and other weak points can let raccoons inside. It would be best if you regularly inspected your home to ensure no openings.
- Keep your yard clear of debris
Piles of leaves, foliage, or other debris can provide homes to raccoons. Regularly cleaning up your yard and discarding litter whenever necessary make your yard less hospitable for raccoons.
It’s important to remember that raccoons are wild animals. Taking care of an intrusion on your own can be difficult and even dangerous, which is why the best raccoon control is professional raccoon control.
What’s The Best Way To Get Rid Of Raccoons?
Because raccoons can carry disease and cause property damage, intrusions should be taken care of as soon as possible. But they aren’t easy to remove on your own. That’s why 911 Wildlife offers raccoon prevention and control services in Houston. Our company is owned and operated by wildlife rehabilitators, and our goal is always to remove raccoons and other wildlife safely and humanely. Our research-based methods show the best ways to keep you and the animals safe. We also do exclusion work to ensure the raccoons don’t return. Contact 911 Wildlife today to learn more about the options we have for pest control for raccoons near you.
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