Many people think of raccoons as just cute, furry bandits who do little more than provide us with a few adorable YouTube videos. These people have clearly never had a raccoon spread garbage across their lawn or tear up the insulation in their attic. As cute as you might find these masked critters to be, they are a nuisance to have on your property, especially if they decide to make their home there. If you have some of these ring-tailed renegades making themselves comfortable on your property, check out these dos and don’ts for raccoon control.
Don’t Leave Food Accessible
Raccoons don’t usually spend much time on a property if there is no easy food source for them. If you want to discourage the animals from becoming comfortable on your property, don’t leave food easily accessible for them. Since they’re scavengers who will eat just about anything, there are a few common food sources that you need to be aware of:
- Garbage – Raccoons will root through your trash and tear open garbage bags to get to your scraps. Make sure that your trash cans are securely closed. You may want to use a bungee cord to keep the lid on tight, as these clever animals can take the lids off or will simply knock the can over in order to get to what’s inside.
- Pet food – If you leave a bowl of food on your back porch for your cat or dog, you should consider bringing it inside at night, when raccoons are most often out hunting for food. The little thieves will help themselves to your pet’s food, and you’ll have them visiting your home regularly–if they don’t simply choose to move in somewhere on your property.
Do Seal Off Easy Entrances
Raccoons like to make their homes in dark, cozy areas, and they often will build nests in attics or under porches. Make sure to block off easy entrances to these areas. Check your attic for gaps in the roof or siding, and put some trellis around the bottom of your porch to keep these animals out.
Don’t Try to Trap Them Yourself
Above all, don’t try to trap and relocate a raccoon by yourself. Raccoons can get very aggressive when they’re cornered, so raccoon removal in Atlanta should be left to the professionals. These animals can carry a lot of diseases, including rabies, so the last thing you want is to be bitten while trying to relocate a trapped raccoon.
If you need professional raccoon removal this summer, contact Mayday Pest Control. We’ll get the animals off of your property so that you can enjoy those summer nights without worrying about any masked critters crashing your party.