In the United States, there are several animals that are known as pest species due to their very nature. For high incidence of contact with humans and being a nuisance, there are few animals that can outdo raccoons.
They can get trapped in our homes, they make a mess of the trash, and in the worst-case scenario, they could cause injury to people or pets.
All About Raccoons
Before we humans came bursting onto the scene, raccoons lived in the forest and along waterways foraging and finding food wherever they could. Now that we have developed our cities and neighborhoods in their original habitat, the raccoons no longer have quite as much natural space.
This has led to a situation where they live alongside humans; but for the most part, these clever little creatures have done an impressive job of adapting to our presence.
Raccoons primarily go out to find food during the night. This is the prime time for these animals because they have good vision and their coat provides them with cover in the dark.
Just like humans, raccoons are omnivores and they will essentially eat anything that they can digest. That is part of the reason that they love to go after our trash; any scrap of food that we throw away will make a valuable source of nutrition for a raccoon.
With humans moving into what was once their territory and the fact that many of us provide a good source of food for raccoons, it is no wonder that they want to live in our neighborhoods. This is why problems between us are so common.
Rise in Raccoons
Raccoons and humans residing in the same area is nothing new, but around the state of Louisiana, the number of raccoons in populated areas has been on the rise.
It doesn’t matter if you live in some of the more rural parts of the state or if you live in a bustling city like New Orleans or Baton Rouge – raccoons are there and they consider it their home too.
The reason for this uptick in pest populations is somewhat complex. As mentioned above, our garbage often makes a good source of food, and they find parts of our homes to be particularly good places to set up a nest.
However, the greater production of their natural food sources have also been on the rise and the rising of waterways have also pushed more of them into places where humans live.
Special Concerns about Raccoons and their Young
One of the trickiest problems that can occur with raccoons living around humans is when a mother raccoon decides to make a nest in a home. Trying to evict a mother raccoon that has young babies can be difficult and it almost always leads to the separation and imminent death of the young.
Most often, it is best to just wait for the young raccoons to reach an age where they can leave on their own; if waiting is not an option, then you will need to consult with a professional.
Prevent Raccoon Tenants
If you have had problems with raccoons in the past, then you should consider taking some measures to prevent new raccoons from coming to fill the spot left by the ones that were there.
If you currently have a raccoon living in your house, then you should definitely call a professional pest control service to remove it; our team will also let you know some of the best methods for preventing a reoccurrence.
If you are looking for a way to keep them out of your home on your own, then here are a few steps that may help. First, you are going to need to inspect the area where you think they live.
Make sure that there are no animals currently in the area and look for different ways that the raccoon may be gaining entry. Once you have found the possible points of entry, you should employ sturdy materials such as solid wood or metal hardware cloth to exclude the animal in the future.
If you have raccoons in your home, then you definitely want them removed as soon as possible. They can damage your property, make it unsanitary and they can present a threat for disease and injury.
That being said, using a humane approach to removal is the right thing to do. If the animal should expire in your home, at the very least you will be forced to handle it to remove it, and this will expose you and your home to disease.
Of course, it is possible to get the live raccoon out of the house yourself without putting the animal or you at risk, but this is not easily done.
The best solution to raccoon removal and exclusion is to contact a professional. Our wildlife experts will safely remove the animal, then go over the area with you to ensure they don’t return. When you call Ja-Roy, you can be sure your property is protected for the future.
Ultimate Guide to Louisiana Raccoons in Southern Louisiana
Ja-Roy Pest Control Services is a local Pest Control and Extermination company helping homeowners and businesses with pest issues across Southern Louisiana.