RACCOON REMOVAL IN MD

If you have a Raccoon living in your home in Maryland give us a call at
443-417-3137 to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled Wildlife Control Technicians.

RACCOON (Procyon Lotor)

BIOLOGY

Raccoons are strong, stocky mammals that can weigh between 15 to 40 pounds and have a body length between 2 to 3 feet (including the tail). Raccoons have distinct markings with bushy a tail that has rings of gray and black. They also have a black mask around the eyes which is the reason they are nick named bandits. Their thick fur is gray and black with a salt and pepper type appearance. Raccoons are nocturnal and are omnivorous, eating both plant and meat. Some of their favorite foods include fruits, berries, nuts, acorns, corn, grains, crayfish, clams, fish, frogs, snails, insects, turtles, eggs, baby birds, mice, snakes, and any other food they come across.

Raccoons prefer hardwood forest areas near bodies of water. They typically den in hollow trees, ground burrows, brush piles, dens abandoned by other animals, barns, abandoned buildings, haystacks, rock crevices, attics, chimneys or high in treetops where they will pile leaf litter together.

Male Raccoons occupy areas of about 3 to 20 square miles, compared to about 1 to 6 square miles for females. Males are territorial and their ranges overlap very little. Raccoons do not hibernate, but they do “hole up” in dens and become inactive during severe winter weather. In the southern United States they may be inactive for only a day or two at a time, whereas in the north this period of inactivity may extend for weeks or months. In northern areas, Raccoons may lose up to half their fall body weight during winter as they utilize stored body fat.

The majority of their populations consist of young animals, with one-half to three-fourths of fall populations normally composed of animals less than 1 year in age. Raccoons may live as long as 12 years in the wild, but such animals are extremely rare.

REPRODUCTION

Usually less than half of the females will breed the year after their birth, whereas most adult females normally breed every year. Family groups of Raccoons usually remain together for the first year and the young will often den for the winter with the adult female. The family gradually separates during the following spring and the young become independent.

Raccoons breed from February to August but mainly in the early spring. Females are pregnant for about 63 days. Females only give birth to 1 litter of young per year with an average litter size between 3 to 5 young. The young first open their eyes between 2 to 3 weeks of age. Young Raccoons are weaned between 4 to 8 weeks old.

WHY RACCOONS ENTER HOMES

Raccoons are excellent climbers do to their sharp claws and very strong body. They can easily climb up any tree and can even climb up the side of many homes. Attic and crawl spaces make great den sites for Raccoons however Raccoons will den in any area that provides seclusion, protection from predators, and protection from weather.

HOW RACCOONS ENTER HOMES

Raccoons are very intelligent , once they figure out where the most vulnerable place is on your home, they rip through it to access their new den. Raccoons are known for bending open vents so they can fit their body through it, they also rip open soffits, fascia boards, drip edging and eves to access attics. Raccoons will den in chimneys that are not capped off with animal proof chimney caps. It is not a good idea to start a fire in your fire place if Raccoons are dening in your chimney. The fire will not chase them out of the chimney top it will however overwhelm the Raccoon with smoke and cause them to die in the chimney. If the Raccoon dies in your chimney it will cause a very bad oder in your home for many months and it will be almost imposable to remove the carcass which will cost you a lot more money then if you just had a professional trap them and put an animal proof chimney cap on. Raccoons will enter crawl spaces and basements. If a Raccoon can fit its body through a vulnerable area around the foundation of your home they will investigate the area and sometimes make it their permanent den.

DAMAGE RACCOONS CAUSE TO YOUR HOME

Raccoons are very destructive animals. The longer they are in your attic the more damage is caused and the more costly it can be for the cleanup and repairs. Raccoons will saturate your attic insulation with urine and feces causing a very smelly mess and a huge health hazard. The Urine and feces will also stain your sheet rock ceiling that is under the attic insulation. They will defecate on everything in the attic including ventilation systems and personal materials. Raccoons will rip apart anything that is stored in your attic they will also rip apart ventilation systems, roofs, electrical wiring, light fixtures, heat pumps, insulation, walls and ceilings.

PARASITES AND DISEASES RACCOONS CARRY

Raccoons carry infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals that have been in contact with raccoons or their feces. Raccoons can also shed viruses, bacteria and parasites that humans and domestic animals can become infected with. Humans should never handle Raccoons or their feces without protection and appropriate training.

Humans and domestic animals can become infected with diseases, bacteria and parasites when humans are exposed to the Raccoons bodily secretions, saliva, urine, feces and bites or scratches. When a Raccoon defecates and urinates on anything then that environment becomes contaminated. Any area that a Raccoon uses to den is also contaminated. People who handle raccoons, who are bitten, scratched or exposed to their feces, should be aware of the potential health hazards.

Rabies: Raccoons can carry the rabies virus. Rabies is a virus that is spread by contact with the saliva, by being scratched or by being bitten by an animal that is infected. Raccoons are one of the most common species to carry rabies. Between 2000’ and 2010’ there were 4,404 cases of rabies in Maryland. Rabies is nearly always fatal once the symptoms appear. If you have had contact with or have been bitten by a Raccoon you must seek medical attention immediately.

Baylisascaris procyonis: (Bay-lis-asc-aris) Roundworm is a parasite of the intestines of Raccoons. There can be hundreds of eggs in the feces. Humans that have ingested the eggs can become infected with roundworms after a 2 to 4 week incubation period. Exposure to feces during handling, feeding and cleaning can cause a serious disease known as Visceral Larval Migrans and infection of the central nervous system. Oral ingestion of infective stages of eggs is the primary route of exposure. Roundworm eggs can be easily ingested when humans put their hands where Raccoons have been and then place their hands on their face. Some roundworms can infect humans through the skin. When humans are in a closed in environment they may breath some eggs in.

Giardiasis: Giardia species is a microscopic protazoal infection that can be transmitted by Raccoons. Raccoons can carry this organism in their feces and contaminate water, soil and surfaces. Humans can contract Giardia by ingestion of infective cysts from contaminated animals and sources. Patients can develop severe gastrointestinal symptoms.

Leptospirosis: Leptospira species is a bacterial infection that many animals and humans can contract and transmit. There are several different species of Leptospira that are found in wildlife, which is the primary source of contamination of the environment with these bacteria. Raccoons can shed Leptospirosis in their urine and secretions. Exposure of these excretions to open wounds or orally can cause infection to humans.

Other Diseases: Other bacterial diseases such as Salmonella or E. Coli, fungus and rare parasites can also be a risk for illness in humans. People who handle, feed and clean up waste should be aware of the potential health hazards and practice aggressive hygiene and sanitation to prevent exposure of skin, eyes, mouth and body to infection. Physicians can assess individuals who may have been exposed and recommend appropriate actions to prevent disease.

FLEAS are very common on the Raccoons. If Raccoons are in your atticfleas will eventually make their way down into the living space of your home. Once fleas have established their selves and have a food source they will multiple by the hundreds and become a very annoying pest problem. The most effective way to get rid of fleas is to contact a professional pest control company. If you have fleas call Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control at 443-417-3137.

To learn more about rodent removal and control visit Mid Atlantic Wildlife Control.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO RESOLVE YOUR RACCOON PROBLEMS

Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control offers solutions proven to work. If you have a Raccoon problem our technicians will perform an inspection and discover any entry points that the Raccoons are using to access your home. Our Technicians will also locate the Raccoons den site and any damage that the Raccoons have caused. We combined live capture trapping with eviction methods that will prevent re-entry by future Raccoons.

If Raccoons are using your chimney for a den site our technicians can extract both adults and babies from your chimney and put an animal proof chimney cap on the top to prevent future Raccoon entry. Our animal proof chimney caps also protect your chimney from squirrels, bats, birds and the weather. We have custom made eviction devices that allow Raccoons to exit your attic and not re-enter. After the Raccoons have left your attic we seal up the entry points so future Raccoons are not enticed to enter your attic.

Depending on how much damage has been done by the Raccoons your attic may need all of the insulation removed once the Raccoons are evicted or your attic may only need a small area cleaned. We provide attic cleanouts that will rid your home from any health hazards caused by the Raccoons den in your attic. We remove all soiled insulation and any personal items that may be contaminated by Raccoon feces and urine. Any ventilation systems that are contaminated are professionally cleaned to remove any health hazards.

We offer animal proof exclusion barriers. If Raccoons are getting into your crawl space, shed or under porches and decks our animal proof exclusion barriers will prevent them from entering that area. Animal proof exclusion barriers provide a secure concealment that blocks Raccoons from that area.

If you have Raccoons or any other wildlife species invading your home give Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control a call and we will dispatch a technician to resolve your pesky problem.

To learn more about raccoon removal and control visit Mid Atlantic Wildlife Control.

MARYLAND COUNTIES WE SERVE

Anne Arundel
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Calvert County
Carroll County
Caroline County
Cecil County
Charles County
Dorchester County
Fredrick County
Harford County
Howard County
Kent County
Montgomery County
Prince George’s County
Queen Anne’s County
St. Mary’s County
Somerset County
Talbot County
Washington County
Wicomico County
Worchester County

To see what areas we cover visit Mid Atlantic Wildlife Control.