Raccoons are one of our favorite animals at Wildlife Busters. We love their appearance and hence there presence in our logo. But it’s not only their distinctive features that we admire. It’s their uncanny ability to break through and get into your commercial or residential property. Raccoons are one of the most adaptable animals we encounter. They have not only learned to survive in our communities but to thrive.
This is raccoon season or should I say it has been for the past 90 days. This is the time of year that we are getting inundated with new clients who have experienced the nightmare of raccoon’s making a location within your residential or commercial property a den to raise their young. Whether it is your attic, roof crawl space, walls, chimney, industrial cooler, you name it and they will rip into it. Raccoons are cute and cuddly looking, but they are animals to admire from afar. Raccoons carry rabies and distemper, but your real concern should be the scat (feces) they leave behind which acts as a host for raccoon roundworm eggs. Raccoon roundworm is a disease that is caused by a parasite that lives in the intestines of raccoons.
Raccoons shed millions of the microscopic roundworm eggs in their feces. People may encounter the eggs through direct contact with raccoon droppings or by touching a contaminated area or object. If they don’t wash their hands they may later transfer the eggs to their mouths. Small children are particularly vulnerable because they tend to put their hands and other objects into their mouths. Breathing in the raccoon roundworm eggs may also infect you. If you are experiencing a raccoon removal issue, please give Wildlife Busters a call toll free at 855-945-1212. We welcome the opportunity to resolve your animal control issue in a professional and humane manner. Please note, Wildlife Busters highly recommends our animal decontamination and sanitization services for most raccoon removal circumstances, especially where raccoons have been residing in your commercial or residential property for a period of time creating latrines throughout the encroached upon area.
Fun Animal Fact of the Month
A raccoon’s hands are so nimble they can unlace a shoe, unlatch a cage and deftly retrieve coins as thin as dimes from your shirt pocket.
Raccoon’s range in size from 12 to 36 pounds having a body 26 to 38 inches long including a 10-inch tail. Their coat is long and thick, grizzled, grayish brown, black mask below white eyebrows. Legs are medium in length; paws are puffy and they have flexible toes used for climbing. They are primarily nocturnal but may be active during the day, especially in the spring and summer when the female is nursing her young and requires more food. They do not hibernate.
Raccoons are opportunists. They will eat anything ranging from fruits, berries, acorns, nuts to worms, fish, turtles, mice, crayfish, clams, snails to even eggs and young of birds and reptiles. And you guessed it; your garbage and pet foods would be a treat for them.
Raccoons breed in late January to February. Gestation takes approximately 63 days. Typical birthing periods are from March through May. However, late breeding females may give birth as late as August. Raccoons are polygamous, females raise the young alone. In fact, the males will potentially kill the kits if they find them. Typical litter is 3 to 5 kits.
Raccoons Best Practices
At Wildlife Busters® we believe that prevention is always the best policy when it comes to dealing with nuisance wildlife. Proper repairs to a commercial or residential building, maintenance plans and inspectional services are just a part of what might help you avoid having to deal with a wildlife removal issue.
Some helpful tips include:
- Make sure vents are sealed properly
- Install a chimney cap
- Secure trash in trash cans
- Seal all openings in and around your home (i.e. soffits, siding etc.)
Wondering how to get rid of raccoons? There is no magic spray or device that you can use to make them go away. Some people try to sell predator urine, such as coyote or fox urine to get rid of raccoons, but that doesn’t work. They also try to sell ultrasonic sound emitters. These devices are worthless at eliminating raccoons. Some old wives’ tales recommend the use of mothballs or ammonia-soaked rags to make them leave, but I’ve been to countless homes where these techniques failed – biologists know that these attempts won’t work. The ONE AND ONLY WAY to take care of your problem is with animal trapping and removal services.
If you are experiencing a nuisance wildlife issue, whether it be raccoons, squirrels, woodchucks, moles, voles, bats, give Wildlife Busters a call toll free at 855-945-1212 and we resolve your wildlife management issue professionally, efficiently and humanely. Please note that all of our wildlife exclusion services come with a 1 to 5 year warranty which can be extended upon expiration with one of our long-term prevention plans. Please give us a call or check out our website at www.WildlifeBusters.com for more information.
Community Wildlife Programs and Upcoming Events
Mohonk Preserve
Sunday May 1st, “The Historic Preserve Landscape and It’s People” 10 am – 12 noon. Saturday May 7th, “Backyard Composting” 10 am – 12 noon. Saturday May 14, “Early Morning Birding” 6:30 am to 9:30 am. Saturday May 21, “Family Field and Forest Hike” 10 am – 12 noon. Sunday May 22nd, “Spring Wild Flower Walk” 2 pm – 5 pm. Tuesday May 24th, “Toddlers on the Trail Wild Flowers and Critters” 10 am – 12 noon. For more information please visit www.mohonkpreserve.org
Museum of Hudson Highlands
Saturday April 30th. Earth Day Celebration and Rummage Sale from 10 am to 3 pm. Friday May 6th, “Frog Walk” 7:30 pm. Saturday May 14th, “Wildlflower and Heirloom Vegetable Sale” 9am – 1 pm. Saturday May 14th, “Birding with Bakers” 8:30 am. Saturday May 21st, “Wonders of Wetlands” 10 am. For more information please visit; www.museumhudsonhighlands.org
Weinberg Nature Center
Sundays May 1st & 15th, “Meet our Resident Animals”, 11 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 3pm. Saturday May 6th, “Nature Lovers and Artists” 10 am – 11:30 am. Sunday May 22rd. “2011 Spring Eco-Fest” from 12 pm to 4 pm. For more information please visit; www.weinbergnaturecenter.org
Beczak Environmental Education Center
Satruday May 8th, “Flower Fun” 11 am 1 pm. Saturday My 14th, “Brick Mosaic Art” 11 am – 12 noon. Sunday May 22nd “Incredible Insects” 11 am to 12 noon. Sunday May 15th & Saturday May 28th, ” Hudson River Family Seining”, 12 pm – 2 pm. For more information please visit; www.beczak.org
And for some Wildlife fun all year round visit:
www.palisadesparksconservancy.org The Bear Mountain Zoo located in the Bear Mountain State Park, NY
“Keeping score of old scores and scars, getting even and one-upping, always makes you less than you are.”
Malcolm Forbes
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