Do You Have Raccoons in Your Attic?
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
~wildlife education~
Do you hear thumping overhead at night? You could have raccoons in your attic. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures, so they will make noise at night.
Photo credit: istock.com/Westy72
If you have a mother raccoon with babies in your attic, getting them all out could be difficult. Baby raccoons, called kits, are born in the spring. When their mother is away, they will cry, chirp, and squeak awaiting her return.
It would be very cruel to shut the mother out, leaving the babies inside. And it could make your invasion problem much worse as the mother may become desperate to get to her babies and cause serious damage to your home trying to reach them.
There are gentle deterrent methods to evict raccoons. A few strategically placed bright lights and a motion-activated alarm would make them feel unwelcome. Also, raccoons hate the smell of mint or peppermint. Spray peppermint oil around the attic, especially near the raccoon’s entrance point to bid them adieu. Once you know they are gone, have the access holes sealed.
Raccoons can carry parasites and dangerous diseases that may be passed on to humans. Always wear gloves and a mask when dealing with raccoons or raccoon waste. They can also bite and scratch if they feel threatened.
An infected raccoon can shed hundreds of roundworm eggs in their feces daily which can live outside the raccoon for years, awaiting a host. If ingested by humans, results may vary from mild symptoms to potential death. Children under the age of one year who have eaten raccoon feces have died.
Collecting raccoon feces to dispose of them should be done using protective clothing, rubber gloves and boots (that are left outside, not brought indoors). The feces should be flushed or burned.
You may think the little critters are cute and feed them on a regular basis, but you could be threatening your health and that of others.
Raccoons are part of our wildlife family, but they can be a potential risk to your health. Take precautions to keep you and your family safe. Do not feed your pets outside as their food may seem like an invitation to a hungry raccoon. If you store your garbage bins outdoors, make sure they are secure. The rule of thumb is: if raccoons are visiting, something has attracted them.
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