Are you hearing noises in the attic? You may have a raccoon problem on your hands.
Raccoons often break into attics in the winter so they can raise their kits in a safe place. They might also invade in the fall to escape the cold. Indoors, they cause a ton of damage. Raccoons are wildly destructive animals that should be removed as soon as possible.
Most raccoon removal services cost somewhere between $200 and $400. However, the cost of raccoon removal depends on the situation. A very high roof, for example, will be more difficult to reach and cost more.
Contact a wildlife removal professional immediately and follow these steps.
Use a one-way door
The safest and most effective way to get rid of raccoons is to hire a professional and use a one-way door. Licensed wildlife removal technicians can find where the animals are denning on your property, then install one of these devices to get them out.
The one-way door is like an open-ended trap or pet door that only swings outward. A technician can install this to the opening the raccoons are using to get inside the attic, then, within a few days, the raccoons will push their way through. Once out, they cannot get back inside. The raccoons will simply find another place to live.
Technicians are invaluable because they handle everything. Even if there are baby raccoons in the den, they can remove them humanely. Technicians conduct thorough inspections that identify every vulnerability on the property, and they can address them for you. They can raccoon-proof your property so this doesn’t happen again.
Exclude the roof
In many cases, raccoons that were recently evicted will come right back. There is a reason they broke into your attic. They like its location and that it is nice and warm. If you don’t protect your roof, you risk having a repeat invasion.
Exclude your roof from raccoons by making repairs and covering vulnerabilities with mesh. Ask the wildlife removal technician to cover roof vents, plumbing vents, and chimneys with a raccoon-proof mesh. He or she can also cover the parts of your soffits that raccoons can reach. Gaps along the roof’s edge can be covered with flashing or mesh to keep wildlife out.
Get rid of food sources
Raccoons and other wildlife prefer to den where there is food nearby. So, get rid of every possible food source for permanent results. Put away the bird feeder and pick up fallen fruits and vegetables. Rake the leaves and pick up acorns.
If you grow food, consider investing in a raccoon-proof setup or row covers. Raccoons, squirrels, and pests are drawn to vegetable patches. Use an ultrafine mesh or make raised garden beds with mesh lids.
Finally, you should keep the garden as much out of reach as possible. Use lidded bins with locks and secure them further with bungee cords or weights. Store them in a shed or other structure that is closed off and keep them clean. Raccoons are adept at opening locks and getting into garbage.
Use deterrents
There are all kinds of electronic deterrents available online and in hardware stores. Find one that is designed for raccoons and place it near the garden, roof, or wherever you don’t want them. Raccoons don’t like flashing lights or high-pitched sounds. Though you can’t rely on deterrents entirely, they help prevent repeat invasions.
As an alternative to electronic devices, you can try spraying the edges of your roof or deck with synthetic predator urine or apple cider vinegar. Spray garden beds with diluted hot sauce or powder them with cayenne pepper to help keep them out of your plants.
