Raccoon Removal | Getting Rid Of Raccoons

Scratching in the walls or noises in the attic? You could have had a break-in by a little robber (a raccoon)!

Raccoons can be one of the most destructive animals that get inside homes. They often gnaw on wood, cables or electrical wiring and almost any stored item. The gnawing of wiring is perhaps the scariest damage they do – stripping the insulation from the wires increases the chances for a short and the risk of fire. If you suspect raccoons have broken in your home or you are hearing noises in the attic or walls in the morning or evening, you should call the professionals at Georgia P.A.W.S. We the experts in eliminating nuisance wildlife problems. With our effective and highly tested techniques, our professionals can diagnose your problem, provide raccoon trapping and remove the raccoons, and provide the necessary repairs to cover holes and construction gaps that may be allowing them entry into your home. You can read more about our full exclusion process here.

Georgia PAWS Raccoon Removal

Humane raccoon removal and trapping is essential to the safety of humans and other animals in Georgia.

Raccoons are dangerous to live with because they are the greatest source of rabies infection in North America and the most frequent cause of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administrations on the continent.

Raccoon removal is not an easy process, but it is possible with professional help. Get in touch with Georgia PAWS if you need humane raccoon removal services in the state.

Continue reading to learn more about raccoons and humane raccoon removal.

Wildlife Facts About Raccoons

Raccoons are nocturnal mammals that are recognizable because of their black mask-like markings across the eyes. They have bushy tails that are ringed with five to ten black bands.

Raccoon Species

There are seven known species of raccoons. The most popular species is the North American raccoon. Its scientific name is Procyon lotor, while its common nickname is “ring tail.” It lives in various areas in the United States, northern Canada, and South America.

Size and Weight

North American raccoons commonly range from 30 to 35 inches in length. This measurement includes the 9.5-inch tail of the mammals. They typically weigh approximately 10 kg, but huge males may weigh up to over 44 lbs.

Physical Characteristics

Aside from their “masks” and tailed rings, raccoons also have tiny upright ears, pointy muzzles, short legs, and hairless front feet.

Rough, shaggy fur covers their bodies. Northern raccoons have fur that ranges in color from gray to blackish brown, while southern raccoons are usually silver in color.

The mammals who live in northern areas are usually bigger than those that live in southern regions.

Eating Habits

Raccoons are technically classified as carnivores. However, they can be practically considered omnivores since they eat almost all types of food. They consume rodents, crayfish, frogs, fruits, and other plants.

These animals are wrongly believed to wash their food before eating it. However, this is just a myth that arises from their habit of looking for food near water sources and the complex way that they handle food.

Raccoons adjust to winter food shortages by becoming dormant. Each dormant period may last from a few days up to four or six months. This is made possible by the huge amount of body fat accumulated in the late summer and autumn seasons. Many of them will end up weighing twice their weight in spring to prepare for winter dormancy periods.

Mating Habits

Male raccoons usually mate with several females during the early spring season. The females typically give birth later in the spring season after a gestation period of around 60-73 days.

Every year, a raccoon litter may include up to one to six baby raccoons. The common number is three to four offspring per litter.

Baby raccoons are weaned when they are two months old. They usually start hunting food after they are weaned. However, the females continue to take care of their young for up to one year.

Lifespan

Raccoons in captivity may have a life expectancy of up to 20 years, while raccoons in the wild have a lifespan of less than five years.

Their predators include mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats. Even though they may be vulnerable to predators, they sometimes manage to survive attacks because of their relatively big size and defensive ability.

Intelligence Level

Raccoons are smart and curious animals. They can adapt to various types of situations and settings, including the presence of humans.

Habitat

Their natural habitats are forests and grasslands. They typically build dens in hollow trees, riverbanks, or unoccupied beaver lodges.

However, they can survive in cities and towns as well because of their adaptability.

Risks of Raccoon Infestation

Because raccoons can live in towns and cities, you may experience raccoon infestation problems in your community.

These are the potential dangers of the unwanted presence of raccoons in your home:

Rabies Infection: The raccoon is classified as a primary carrier of the rabies virus in the United States.

Leptospirosis: The urine of the raccoon contains Leptospirosis bacteria which may cause diseases in humans.

Raccoon Bites: While raccoons don’t normally attack people, sick or rabid ones may possibly bite or hurt people and other animals.

Raccoon Roundworm: Raccoon feces may contain the Baylisascaris roundworm, which can harm humans and pets.

Baylisascaris worms are intestinal parasites found in a wide variety of animals such as raccoons. Cases of Baylisascaris infection in people are not frequently reported, but can be severe. Baylisascaris procyonisis thought to pose the greatest risk to humans because of the often close association of raccoons to human dwellings

Humans can become infected with the disease through the eggs that are passed in raccoon feces. If raccoons have set up a den or a latrine in your home, raccoon feces and material contaminated with raccoon feces should be removed carefully and burned, buried, or sent to a landfill. Care should be taken to avoid contaminating hands and clothes. Treat decks, patios, and other surfaces with boiling water or a propane flame-gun (exercise proper precautions). Prompt removal and destruction of raccoon feces before the eggs become infectious will reduce risk for exposure and possible infection.

The risks of raccoon infestation highlight the need for humane raccoon removal services.

How To Identify and Prevent Infestation in Your Attic and Home

Here are some useful tips that could help you to deal with raccoon infestation in your home and neighborhood:

Inspect your attic, chimney, and other areas of your house to discover if you have unwanted raccoon guests. Check for signs of urine and feces droppings. Be alert regarding unusual sounds coming from your attic or garbage area. Take note of home damage that may be caused by raccoons.

Use humane raccoon repellent to discourage these creatures from rummaging through your garbage or leaving feces in your yard. You can purchase a ready-to-use repellent, or you can make your own using natural ingredients.

Raccoons are typically active during spring, summer, and fall, so be vigilant about animal activity during these seasons. Nevertheless, it’s also possible that raccoons may choose your attic as their resting place during their dormant period in the winter.

Raccoons in Georgia

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, the North American raccoon (a.k.a. Procyon lotor) is the dominant species of raccoon in Georgia.

Raccoon trapping is legal in Georgia because of House Bill 160 signed on April 27, 2015. However, even if steel traps are technically allowed, it is still best to utilize humane removal methods for various reasons.

Benefits of Humane Raccoon Removal

Humane raccoon removal is a safer and kinder way to deal with stray raccoons.

Here are some of the advantages of utilizing gentler methods to control the raccoon population in your community:

Safety: Poisons that can harm or kill raccoons are also dangerous to the well-being of humans and other wildlife. Using humane raccoon repellent instead of poisons can ensure the safety of your kids and pets who may unknowingly ingest these toxic substances.

Cleanliness: Cruel steel traps can maim raccoons, while poisons can kill them. Humane raccoon removal helps you avoid the unpleasant, unhygienic aftermath of dead and decaying raccoons.

Animal Friendly: Humane raccoon removal is beneficial not just to humans but to raccoons as well. These furry creatures will have the chance to live a long, pleasant life after they are relocated.

Georgia PAWS Trapping Method

If you are looking for experts in humane raccoon removal, consider requesting professional assistance from Georgia PAWS.

Georgia PAWS is a pest and wildlife specialist. We utilize a humane trapping method that effectively and safely removes raccoons and keeps them out permanently.

Here’s how the process works:

We trap and remove raccoons from your house without harming them.
After the animal removal procedure is completed, we perform full exclusion work to ensure that raccoons don’t return to your attic, yard, and other indoor and outdoor areas of your home.
We check your whole house for entry points, including cracks, holes, vents, and construction gaps.
We seal the entry points with high-quality galvanized metal flashing so raccoons, bats, and other animals will not be able to enter your home or damage it. We leave one entry point unsealed to prevent animals from being trapped and sealed inside, and then seal that entry point after we are certain all raccoons have left.

Georgia PAWS Repair Damage Services

Georgia PAWS is also skilled in repairing the damage caused by raccoons once the animals have been successfully removed.

Here are the repair damage services we offer:

● Attic restoration

● Drywall repair & painting

● Soffit repair

● Repair/replace siding

● Deck building

● Fascia repair

● Roof damage repair

● Exterior chimney repair

Contact Georgia PAWS for Humane Raccoon Removal and Pest Control Services

Raccoon removal is a difficult and potentially dangerous process if you choose the DIY route. Avoid the risks of raccoon population control by requesting help from professionals who are experienced in wildlife removal.

Georgia PAWS offers raccoon removal services which we carry out through our effective, humane trapping method.

Call us at (678) 313-3781 if your home is located in the metro Atlanta area. Dial (706) 207-7278 if your home is situated outside of metro Atlanta in Northeast Georgia. Send us a message if you have questions about Georgia PAWS and our humane raccoon removal and wildlife control services.