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Raccoon Control

By: APP Manager

RACCOONS



Description and Identification Exceedingly clever and intelligent animals, raccoons are known to be mischievous and will eat almost anything. Also frequently referred to as a coon, raccoons are solid, sturdy mammals about 2 or 3 feet in length, weighing in at anywhere from 10 and 30 pounds (although there have been reported cases of raccoons getting to be as much as 40 or 50 pounds). Marked distinctively with a prominent black mask over the eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail, raccoons are generally salt-and-pepper gray, though some are actually yellow.



Excluding some areas in the Southwest and higher elevations in mountainous regions, raccoons are prevalent all over the US. They prefer to make their homes in hardwood forests, particularly those in close proximity to a body of water, however raccoons are extremely adaptable and can also be seen in human living areas such as orchards, suburban neighborhoods, farms, and gardens. They create nests and dens in barns, abandoned buildings, haystacks, hollow trees and rock crevices.



Since they are primarily active at night, raccoons are often present in an area for some time prior to being detected. Without suitable understanding of their feeding tendencies and damage potential, raccoon control could be very difficult.


Damage Potential



Raccoons make a nuisance of themselves and cause destruction in different ways. While it's possible that they will go undetected for periods of time, they can be relatively easy to identify once tracks are observed. Raccoon damage can be extensive, and if it isn't dealt with, can be fairly expensive. In comparison to damage that can be done to a building or home, damage that they do to gardens is fairly minor, but they've been known to hunt for grubs and worms by actually rolling up freshly laid sod.



When they are searching for den sites for their babies, female raccoons will often remove heating and air conditioning ducts and roof shingles to find shelter in an attic or crawl space. Raccoons frequently search out shelter and refuge in homes and businesses especially in attics or chimneys and in areas where compost piles and garbage cans can be raided. In a lot of suburban and urban communities, raccoons have adapted to make chimneys acceptable replacements for traditional hollow trees. When the animals begin using the same areas in a building or attic as a bathroom, the ceiling below will sometimes hold an objectionable smell and become discolored.



Identified recently as a substantial host for rabies among wildlife, reports of disease ridden animals have dramatically increased over the last 30 years. The majority of the rise in reports is directly related to a broadening of raccoon populations in eastern United States.



Diet and Feeding Tendencies



Since raccoons are omnivorous, they adapt and acclimate to places where they have access to food. When the animals start to come into human territory, they tend to gravitate toward places where they can find garbage or pet food left outside. They have been known to eat ducks, chickens and other birds when that is accessible, along with their eggs. In garden and farming regions, raccoons eat produce like backyard nuts, corn, vegetables, and watermelon.



When raccoon populations become a pest control problem in your home or business, it is crucial that you locate an expert that is experienced and educated in safely removing them. Visit http://www.birdandanimalcontrol.com for assistance in finding a company that'll handle your raccoon control issues and raccoon removal in a timely and safe way.

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

Evelyn is a writer for www.birdandanimalcontrol.com that researches and writes about animal removal and control. Find tips and information about raccoon removal, as well as feeding tendencies and identification.

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