From a raccoon’s point of view, humans make excellent neighbors. After all, raccoons don't know that our luscious vegetable gardens, uncapped chimneys and full birdfeeders aren't there just for them. And when these clever critters take advantage of the food and shelter we (usually unintentionally) provide, they often get into trouble.
Requests for help with problem raccoons bring in a lot of money for “nuisance” wildlife control companies. We have a more effective, inexpensive, and humane solution: Start with tolerance, learn how the problems begin, and practice prevention. Here's how.
- Inside your house (getting them out and keeping them out)
- Denning in your attic or chimney
- In your walls, ceilings and crawl spaces
- Eating your yards, gardens and trash
- Raiding your birdfeeder
- Interacting with your pets
- Coming in through your pet door
- Rabies (and other public health concerns)
- Safe cleanup of their waste
Are you sure it's a raccoon?
Before you do anything, make sure you're dealing with a raccoon (and not your neighbor's dog).
Resources
- Read Dorcas MacClintock’s Natural History of Raccoons (Blackburn Press, 2003) to learn more.