Raccoon Identification & Prevention

Raccoons are small, furry mammals characterized by their fluffy, ringed tails. North American raccoons are gray, slightly larger than house cats, and have a distinct black marking covering their eyes. The fact that this marking looks like a mask has earned raccoons nicknames like "trash pandas" and "trash bandits."

The mask isn't the only reason raccoons have earned these monikers. Their infamous love of trash is not an exaggeration. These nocturnal omnivores will get in just about any trash can they can find to eat virtually any organic substance you throw away. Their love of trash is part of what makes raccoon control so difficult.

Raccoons may not look like much, but they can be quite dangerous, mostly because they are among the most common vectors of rabies, the deadliest virus on the planet. Raccoons are typically not overly aggressive if left undisturbed, but rabies can make them extremely aggressive and likely to bite. And a bite from a rabid raccoon will result in a rabies infection without rabies shots. These shots will protect you from rabies infection, but they are painful and can be expensive.

Raccoons can also destroy property, spread other diseases besides rabies, and infest your property with external parasites. External parasites like ticks can spread dangerous bacterial infections like Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The reasons to keep raccoons off your property are almost endless.

Most people wind up with a raccoon problem because they're inadvertently attracting raccoons to their property. They may not be putting the right lids on their garbage cans. They may have a crawl space with easy access. Or maybe they are leaving pet food out all the time. If you're not engaged in proper raccoon control methods, you could attract these resourceful and destructive animals without even trying.

You'll find raccoons in your outdoor trash cans if you have them living around your property. You may also find them around your pet's outdoor food and water bowls. If they live in your home, they will likely be in your attic, crawl space, or garage.

Unfortunately, pest control for raccoons is tough to accomplish when you already have an infestation. Once raccoons are on your property, getting them off can be a hassle, not to mention they can attack you.

The safest and most effective thing you can do to get rid of raccoons on your property is to contact a reputable raccoon control company like RodentX. Here at RodentX, we're not just experts at getting rid of unwanted rodents; we can take care of all your varmint and wildlife needs. Our wildlife experts can remove the raccoons on your property and help you make the updates you need to keep them away for good.

Though your ability to do anything about an active raccoon infestation is limited, there are several things you can do to make your property less attractive to them:

• Keep all outdoor trash cans covered with wildlife-proof lids. 
• Never leave pet bowls or pet foods sitting out.
• Get rid of ground-level water sources if possible.
• Cut off access to places raccoons like to inhabit, such as crawl spaces and attics.

And remember, if you wind up with an active raccoon infestation, do not try to eliminate it yourself. Keep yourself safe and healthy by contacting RodentX, Rochester's premier raccoon control service. Our experts can remove unwanted wildlife from your property and keep you from having to risk a potentially serious bite.