RACCOONS
Description and Identification Highly intelligent and clever animals, raccoons are mischievous and eat nearly anything. Often referred to as coons, raccoons are solid, stocky mammals around 2 or 3 feet in length, and they weigh in at anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds (although there have been reported incidences of raccoons being up to 50 pounds). Distinctively marked with a prominent black mask over the eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail, raccoons are typically salt-and-pepper gray, although some are actually yellow.
Excluding higher elevations in mountainous regions and specific areas in the Southwest, raccoons can be found all over the US. They prefer hardwood forests, particularly those with access to a body of water, but raccoons are extremely adaptable and can also be seen in human living areas such as suburban neighborhoods, orchards, farms, and gardens. They create nests and dens in abandoned buildings, barns, hollow trees, haystacks and rock crevices.
Since they are predominantly active at night, raccoons are often present in an area for a good deal of time prior to being detected. Without suitable knowledge about their damage potential and feeding tendencies, raccoon control may be very difficult.
Diet and Feeding Tendencies
Since raccoons are omnivorous, they adapt to places where they have access to food. When they begin to come into human territory, they are attracted to places where there is pet food or garbage left outside. They've been known to consume poultry and other birds when that food is attainable, and also their eggs. In farming and gardening regions, raccoons feed on crops like vegetables, watermelon, corn, and backyard nuts.
Damage Possibilities
Raccoons can become a problem and create damage in several different ways. While it is true it's possible that they will go undetected because of their nocturnal nature, they can be pretty easy to identify once you observe the tracks. Raccoon damage can be extensive, and if it is left untreated, can be costly. Compared to damage that they will do to a building or house, damage that they can do to gardens is somewhat minor, however, they've been known to scrounge for earth worms and grubs by actually rolling up sod that is freshly laid.
When they are looking for a site to nest, mother raccoons can remove roof shingles and even roof top ventilators to find shelter in an attic or crawl space. They frequently look for refuge in homes and businesses particularly in attics or chimneys and in places where garbage cans can be raided for food. In many urban and suburban regions, raccoons have adapted to make chimneys adequate replacements for traditional hollow trees. When the animals start to use specific places in a building or attic as a bathroom, the ceiling below will become discolored and hold an offensive smell.
Identified recently as a major host for rabies in wildlife, reports of disease ridden animals have increased dramatically over the past three decades. A lot of the increase in reports is directly related to an increase in raccoon populations in the eastern U.S..
When raccoons become a control problem in your area, it is essential that you find a wildlife expert that is educated and proficient in safely removing them. Check out http://www.birdandanimalcontrol.com for help to find a company that'll manage your animal control problem and raccoon removal efficiently and safely.
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