The Best Way To Keep Long Island Raccoons Away From Your Home

Did you know that raccoons have dexterous paws that can easily unlatch garbage cans, gates, coolers, and more? This ability is extremely advantageous to the raccoons, but not so much for Long Island homeowners. Raccoons in residential areas often make a mess with garbage, destroy gardens, and even enter homes.

Worse still, these critters can be potentially dangerous. If you have a raccoon problem around your house, this guide is for you. Learn how to handle raccoons on your property, what makes them a threat, and your best option for wildlife control on Long Island.

What To Do If There Is A Raccoon Outside Your House

Raccoons are gray and black mammals with characteristic black “bandit” masks across their eyes. Adult raccoons grow to be between two and three feet long. Their bodies are stocky, and they have a furry, ringed tail. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures, but it is not unheard of to see them during the day.

Raccoons can be fascinating to observe, but it’s not ideal to have them on your property. They are wild animals and may attack if they feel threatened. If you see a raccoon outside your home, do not approach the animal. The best thing to do is to leave it alone; usually, the raccoon will eventually move on. If you regularly see raccoons or if they are causing problems on your property, you should consider contacting a local wildlife removal expert.

Raccoons Love To Eat!

Like all wildlife, raccoons are constantly searching for food. Raccoons are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. These critters are not picky eaters - their diet consists of berries, fruits, nuts, insects, frogs, fish, turtles, mice, bird eggs, and more.

As raccoons have adapted to living in urban and suburban environments, their food sources have also come to include whatever they can find in residential neighborhoods. This may consist of items from your vegetable garden, birdseed, pet food, and even the content of your trash cans. Raccoons are often found scavenging in garbage cans for food scraps, and when they do, they tend to make a huge mess.

They’ll also devour the vegetable plants growing in your yard, empty your bird feeders, and eat any pet food left sitting out. Easy access to these food sources can attract raccoons to your property. To help keep raccoons away from your home, be sure to:

• Secure your outdoor trash cans using animal-proof lids, bungee cords, clamps, or other devices.
• Feed your pets indoors and never leave pet food or treats outside.
• Remove birdseed and bird feeders.
• Use a secure fence, motion-detecting lights, or motion-detecting sprinklers around your garden.

Implementing these measures will reduce food sources for raccoons on your property, encouraging them to move on.

Raccoons Can Be Dangerous

Raccoons are not only a nuisance, but they can also be a threat to your health and safety. The main danger associated with raccoons is the risk of rabies. Rabies is a deadly virus that people can contract when bitten or scratched by an infected animal. While not all raccoons have rabies, it is important to always keep your distance from raccoons or any other wild animal.

A rabid raccoon may have symptoms including disorientation, difficulty walking, heightened aggression, or wet and matted fur. It may also make strange noises or foam at the mouth. If you suspect that a raccoon on your property is rabid, it’s important that you contact a residential pest control service for wildlife removal on Long Island.

Aside from rabies, raccoons also carry other diseases, including an intestinal parasite called raccoon roundworm. Raccoons are a threat to property as well as people. They have been known to damage homes when they attempt to enter through chimneys or attics, even going so far as to rip off shingles or boards.

While raccoons look cute with their bandit masks and furry tails, they are dangerous wild animals. They may attack if they feel cornered, so it’s important to always keep a safe distance from raccoons and keep pets and children from approaching them.

Total Nuisance Wildlife Control On Long Island

Raccoons can be a nuisance, damage your home, and risk your health and safety. If these mischievous critters are causing problems on your property, contact Parkway Pest Services for professional wildlife removal.

Parkway Pest Services offers quality wildlife and pest control on Long Island. We have been in business for over 80 years, thanks to our dedication to providing full-service, professional, and knowledgeable pest control services. We have specialized knowledge of wildlife control, and our experienced technicians can safely remove the raccoons from your property. Contact us today for your free wildlife removal quote.