Raccoons on your property are a nuisance at best, and a destructive menace at worst. While these furry little creatures may look cute, they can cause untold damage to property and houses. One raccoon is a lot to handle, but a family of them can be a serious problem.
To keep your home safe from these mischievous pests, you need to know the warning signs of a raccoon infestation.
And once you have identified your home’s pests as raccoons, you can call your local pest control and wild life removal to properly rid you of them, ensuring your property is secure.
So, let’s get into some of the signs that your home may have a raccoon problem.
Paw Print Tracks
Many yards have tracks from little critters scurrying around, but raccoon prints are very distinctive, resembling a small human hand. The entire paw is two to three inches across with five toes long enough to look like fingers. Also, due to their medium size, the distance between each paw print is larger than most other critters, anywhere from 10 to 18 inches.
If you notice these distinctive tracks in your yard, it is a sure sign that you have raccoons.
Destruction
To enter homes, garages, or other buildings, raccoons create their own fairly large entrance. They tear apart siding and exterior walls to get to the interior, leaving behind quite a bit of damage. Once inside the walls of your home, they can then cause further damage to wires, insulation, and other components. Destruction to your home is a good indicator of a raccoon problem.
Noises
Raccoons are not quiet creatures; they cause a fair amount of noise whether they are moving around in your yard or in the walls of your home. As these are not small pests, you will often hear the pitter-patter of their feet accompanied by scratching, chittering, and even growling.
Feces Droppings
Regularly noticing droppings outside of your house is a clear sign that you have a pest. For racoons, their droppings resemble those of a dog, but smaller. They are shaped like a tube and may have undigested seeds in them. Unlike many pests who do not care where they do their business, raccoons tend to continuously relieve themselves in the same location. If you notice one area that has a high concentration of urine or feces, it is a strong indicator that your pest is a raccoon.
Overturned Garbage
Raccoons are natural scavengers, which makes trash cans a prime target for their food consumption. This is where they have earned their nickname trash pandas. However, these critters are not known for cleaning up after themselves. If you regularly have an overturned trash can or food scraps scattered across your yard, your property has a raccoon problem.
Pet Behavioral Changes
Cats and dogs are curious and territorial animals, and raccoons are nocturnal animals. A sign that you may have raccoons is if your pet becomes more active at night, growling or sniffing at walls or crawl spaces where a raccoon may be hiding.
Your pet may even begin to avoid certain areas of the house all together because they can hear a raccoon moving about.
In Sum
While raccoons may appear like adorable little animals, they can cause quite a bit of destruction to your home and property. It is paramount that once you notice a raccoon infestation, you take action to secure your home and remove the pest threat. Rely on your local pest and wildlife control specialists to remove raccoons from your property safely and humanely.
Responsible and Safe Wildlife Removal Services
Experience matters when it comes to removing wildlife and pests from your Arizona home. If you suspect a pest or wildlife infestation turn to the experienced professionals at Critter Evictors in Scottsdale serving Maricopa County.
We ensure safe, efficient pest control and wildlife removal, specializing in raccoon eviction. Our experienced team prioritizes humane methods to protect both your property and the animals. With swift response times and tailored solutions, we guarantee peace of mind. Choose Critter Evictors for reliable service, safeguarding your home from unwanted intruders. Free Estimates