Raccoons are clever, highly adaptive creatures that are moving into urban areas of the United States more and more frequently. While they may have a cute appearance, in reality, these creatures are more destructive and a bigger nuisance than cartoon versions may portray. While the mere sight of raccoons (even during the day) is not necessarily reason to panic, the problem becomes more serious once they have invaded your yard or even your home.
In today’s blog, we’ll go over some signs that you have a raccoon problem, the dangers raccoons can bring, and how to reclaim your property from these invading pests. Read on to learn more, and contact the professionals at Complete Pest Solutions for complete raccoon and wildlife removal in Youngstown and our other service areas.
Signs of Raccoons Around Your Property
A raccoon problem tends to not be subtle — if raccoons have taken up residence in your property, it’s likely you’ll notice right away. However, it’s still possible for this problem to go undetected for long enough for the creatures to do some serious damage to your attic or the rest of your property.
It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with signs of raccoon problems, and keep these signs in the back of your mind while enjoying your yard. One highly recognizable sign is the presence of raccoon footprints — raccoons have five finger-like toes, and their tracks loosely resemble a baby’s handprint at about 2-3 inches wide. Other signs include raccoon feces, which is often noticeable by the presence of undigested berries, scratches around the base of your home, and of course, disturbed garbage cans. If they actually make their way inside, it’s likely you’ll quickly notice the sound of them walking and scratching around in your attic.
Dangers Posed by Raccoon Infestations
Raccoons can wreak havoc in a variety of ways, as they are intelligent and mischievous creatures. From causing a perpetual mess around your garbage cans to shredding everything in sight in your attic, they can cause a great deal of annoyance and property damage once they take over your abode.
Much more serious, however, are the threats raccoons can pose in spreading disease to humans and their pets. The first disease that probably comes to mind is rabies, and raccoons are certainly one of the greatest threats of spreading rabies. Beyond rabies, raccoons can be carriers of ringworm, leptospirosis, and canine distemper, which can seriously harm or even kill dogs. None of these afflictions should be taken lightly, and they are serious reasons to avoid raccoon problems at all costs.
How to Remove Raccoons
While a natural reaction to encountering a raccoon in your home may be to corner it and remove it yourself, this is a bad idea for a number of reasons. As previously mentioned, raccoons — and especially those that have entered your home — are possible carriers of rabies and other diseases. More than this, a cornered animal will become extremely stressed, unpredictable, and vicious, making an attack much more likely.
Never try to fight a raccoon! Instead, it’s much safer for everyone involved to call a team of professionals who are experienced and equipped to handle the problem safely, effectively, and humanely. While in the past it was common to trap such animals in a box, at Complete Pest Solutions, we have moved from this method to the One Way door method. This is much safer and more humane, as it uses the animal’s natural instincts to guide them away from the home. To ensure proper removal if you encounter a raccoon problem in your home, contact a team of professionals as soon as possible.
Contact Complete Pest Solutions for Raccoon Removal
If you have raccoon problems in or around your property, all hope is not lost! Our team has provided trusted local pest and wildlife control services for more than 20 years, and all of our work is backed by a satisfaction guarantee.
Once you notice a raccoon invasion, give the Complete Pest Solutions team a call for swift, professional removal for peace of mind and safety. We’re your top choice for raccoon removal in Youngstown and throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, and we’re happy to help solve your pest control problems!