You may think that an adult raccoon and their babies are cute–until they move into your house!
Raccoons are highly adaptable to urban and suburban environments, so your home can easily become a substitute den for them. Attics and wall spaces provide hidden nooks for them to make their own in order to stay warm during cold fall and winter days. If your home isn’t secure against these furry intruders, it may become a home for them to raise their family and cause damage to your house, attic, roof, and yard.
How can you identify signs of raccoon damage in your house? First, you may actually SEE raccoons taking up residence in your home. Droppings may be found in a central location, such as the roof or inside the attic. Or, you might see your trash cans being invaded and garbage strewn about. However, even if you see this damage, there is good news: you CAN prevent raccoon damage.
Raccoon Damage to House
There are several preventative measures that you can initiate in order to discourage raccoons from choosing your home as a den site. First of all, food is a big reason raccoons set up shop at your house. If there is a constant food supply nearby, then the raccoons won’t want to travel far away from that food source. Sources of food around the neighborhood could come in the form of garbage, bird feed, and pet food. All of these foods are perfect wildlife attractants. Our advice is to keep garbage in secured trash cans with a thick lid and a weight or pressure straps on top. Thin plastic lids can be chewed and broken. Also, take any outdoor pet food in at night. Pet food can attract anything from mice to raccoons to skunks! The following recommendations help avoid additional raccoon damage to your house.
Raccoon Damage to Roof
You want to make it difficult for raccoons to access your roof, as they often consider roofs their personal latrine. Raccoons are strong animals with very hand-like, dexterous front paws. Metal flashing can be applied to wooden beams and house corners to prevent climbing. You may also want to check around your home for aging construction and unsecured openings where a raccoon could create an entrance. Finally, cut trees back 6′ to 8′ away from your home to prevent access to the roof. Be sure that any repairs are sturdy. Preventing access offers the best approach to preventing raccoon damage to your roof.
Raccoon Damage to Attic
Damage from raccoons will most likely take place in the attic. Look for torn soffits under eaves, broken or chewed eave fascia boards, roof shingles torn away near vents, or broken attic vents. Furthermore, inside the attic you may find flattened insulation, flexible ducts that have been ripped apart, and chewed wiring. This means insulation that doesn’t insulate, and damaged wiring that can cause a fire. Be sure that your insulation is protected and that any opening into the attic is secured against these pesky animals. Like preventing roof damage, eliminating access is the best form of prevention against raccoon attic damage.
Raccoon Damage to Yard and Raccoon Tree Damage
In order to avoid raccoon lawn damage, it helps to install baffles on bird feeder poles to prevent raccoons from climbing them.
Eliminate ‘Em Can Help Prevent Raccoon Damage
Don’t take it lightly if you see raccoons around your home or even raccoon damage. These little masked critters are a common carrier of rabies, so you should not approach them. You will need professional help if you have raccoons in your home. Eliminate ’Em not only humanely remove raccoons, but we’ll take measures to prevent them from returning by sealing up entry points.
Here are some of the services Eliminate ‘Em can provide in order to humanely rid your home of raccoons.
- Inspect homes for signs of damage.
- Trap and humanely remove the raccoons.
- Seal up any entry points upon inspection and do it right away.
- Answer any questions you may have.
Same-day service. Call us 24/7 for a free estimate! Give us a call toll free at 1-866-388-8137 (7378).
We’re here to help!