SOLVING RACCOON PROBLEMS

SOLVING RACCOON PROBLEMS

Keeping Raccoons out of garbage:

	Put out your garbage for pickup in the morning, after the nocturnal raccoons have gone home.
	Get a plastic garbage can with a 4" high twist on lid which raccoons can't open.
	Build or buy a simple wooden storage bin. The top should be hinged and have a latch in front with a snaphook or dog leash clasp.
	Snaps can be attached to garbage can lids and the handle can be secured to a stake driven into the ground

Raccoons in dumpster:

When dumpster lids are left open, raccoons go in but often can't climb the slippery sides. Put some strong branches or planks of wood in the dumpster so the raccoons can climb out.

Raccoon in the yard during the daytime:

	Mother raccoons often feed during the day so there is no need to panic if the animal is acting normally. Just keep people and pets away from it.
	If however, an adult raccoon is acting sick or showing abnormal behaviors such as partial paralysis, circling, staggering, self-mutilating, screeching or exhibiting unprovoked aggression or unnatural tameness, call your local animal control officer or police.

Nestling Raccoons in attic or chimney:

	Wait a few weeks for the Raccoons to move out on their own. Babies are kept meticulously clean to avoid attracting predators.
	Trim trees that may lead to the roof.

Eviction of chimney Raccoons:

Keep the damper closed and put a blaring radio with rock or rap music in the fireplace. Then put a bowl of ammonia on a footstool near the damper. Apply these deterrents JUST BEFORE DUSK. Mother Raccoons will not move their babies in daylight. It may take a few days for her to move them all so be patient. Once they've moved, install a mesh chimney cap with a stainless steel top so the situation will not recur.

Eviction of attic Raccoons:

Leave all the lights on and place a blaring radio and moth balls or rags sprinkled with ammonia around the attic. Apply these deterrents JUST BEFORE DUSK. Mother Raccoons will not move their babies in daylight. Be patient as it may take a few days for them all to move. Stuff newspaper in the hole and see if it stays in place for 3 consecutive nights. If so, the den is vacated. Promptly seal the hole with hardware cloth. Make doubly sure that no Raccoons were left behind by leaving a sardine in the attic and check if it is not eaten after 24 hours, or sprinkle flour in front of the entry hole and check for footprints of a Raccoon trying to get out. Also, check that a young, immobile baby has not fallen into some inaccessible area that it's mother could not reach. Listen for cries or movement particularly in the soffit area where the roof meets the house walls.

Wild Neighbors : The Humane Approach to Living With Wildlife