With paws that function almost as well as human hands, raccoons are pernicious omnivores who scavenge for food and cause damage at alarming rates. In addition to their penchant for making huge messes, raccoons are also known carriers of disease and can be dangerous to humans and pets alike if cornered.
And like most pests, it’s important that you take proper precautions to keep them out of your hair—and trust California pest control professionals such as Advanced IPM to help take care of them if you have a raccoon problem.
Where Do Raccoons Live?
The raccoon is an extremely adaptable animal whose original habitats were forests. But as their habitats shrank due to expansion and the growth of cities and suburbs, raccoons have extended their presence into the mountains, coastal areas, and urban areas. Raccoons usually group together in sex-specific social groups, meaning that female raccoons share common areas and male raccoons live in groups of four or fewer.
Why Are Raccoons So Much Trouble?
Raccoons navigate their environment on all four legs and use their paws to get into a significant amount of mischief. Raccoons and their intrusion into urban areas have had a few side effects and reactions, ranging from outrage and disgust to actual regular feedings. It’s important to avoid doing the latter, because wild animals that become dependent upon humans for food will only intrude into your space even further!
As raccoons get used to living in close proximity to people, their behavior adjusts and they become more and more brave about making incursions into our territory. That’s when their ability to get into trouble can really become apparent. While overturned waste bins may be a nuisance for homeowners, it can be the first sign of a potential problem as raccoons start to make their dens in attics or crawl spaces.
In addition to their propensity for property damage, raccoons can be carriers of rabies, canine distemper, and other parasites and bacterial infections.
I Don’t Want Raccoons Near Me. What Can I Do?
The best method to avoid dealing with raccoons is to adopt an attitude of vigilance, especially regarding your waste bins. Use airtight containers as much as possible and try to keep them indoors except for collection days. If a mother raccoon and her kits are invading the area around your home, you may drive them away with loud noises, flashing lights, and unpleasant odors. Generally speaking, though, the most effective way to get rid of raccoons is to restrict their access to food waste, den sites, and other sources of attraction.
Call Advanced IPM For Help!
If raccoons are a particularly persistent pest around your home or neighborhood, consider the expertise of Advanced IPM’s wildlife removal experts. We will humanely trap and relocate the culprits while also helping to identify and fix what invited them to your doorstep in the first place, giving you peace of mind and keeping those adorable little trash pandas from coming back. For the best California pest control, don’t overthink it: choose Advanced IPM.