Residents of Columbus, Ohio, are no strangers to raccoons. Raccoons seem cute and adorable, but they can be a nuisance and even pose serious health risks to you and your family. At Critter Removal Ohio, we receive more calls for raccoon removal than any other wild animal. In this guide, we’ll give you the information you need to protect your property and health from raccoons.
Understanding Raccoon Behavior
Before we dive into how to deal with raccoon infestations, it’s crucial to understand their behavior. Raccoons are nocturnal animals that are active during the night. They’re omnivores and eat both plants and animals, including fruits, nuts, insects, and small animals. Raccoons are good climbers and swimmers, and they’re known for their dexterous front paws, which they use to grasp and manipulate objects.
How Raccoons Enter Homes
Raccoons can infiltrate homes through small gaps, like holes in roofs or walls, uncapped chimneys, or open windows. As excellent climbers, they can also scale trees and jump onto rooftops.
Why Raccoons Enter Homes
Here are some of the reasons raccoons enter homes:
- Shelter: Raccoons may seek refuge in your attic, crawl space, or chimney to protect themselves from harsh weather conditions.
- Food: Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything they can find, including pet food and garbage.
- Breeding: Raccoons may choose your home as a nesting site to raise their young.
What You Need to Know When Raccoons Invade Your Home
If you suspect that raccoons have invaded your home, here’s what you need to know:
Signs of Raccoon Infestation
Some signs of raccoon infestation include:
- Strange noises in your attic or crawl space, such as thumping, scratching, or scurrying.
- Foul odors caused by raccoon urine and feces.
- Damaged insulation and ductwork.
Health Risks Associated with Raccoon Infestation
Despite the cute looks, raccoons can carry various diseases that pose significant health risks to humans. The roundworm parasite found in raccoon feces can cause severe health issues, including blindness, organ damage, and even death. In addition, raccoons can transmit other harmful diseases, such as leptospirosis, salmonella, and rabies. These diseases can be spread through contact with raccoon saliva, urine, and feces, making it essential to handle raccoon infestation carefully. Read more to understand risks and find safe solutions to bird infestations.
If you suspect that raccoons have invaded your property, it is important to contact a professional animal removal company to handle the situation safely and humanely. They have the expertise and equipment necessary to remove raccoons and mitigate any damage they may have caused.
How to Handle Raccoon Infestation
Attempting to remove raccoons on your own can be dangerous and can lead to injury or the spread of diseases. To handle raccoon infestation safely, take the following steps:
- Identify the signs of raccoon infestation, such as scratching or scurrying sounds in the attic or walls, raccoon tracks or droppings, and damaged insulation or wiring.
- Do not attempt to remove raccoons on your own.
- Contact a professional animal removal company.
- Take preventative measures, such as sealing all potential entry points, securing garbage cans, and removing any potential food sources to prevent future raccoon infestations.
The Damage Raccoons Can Do to Properties
Raccoons can cause significant damage to properties, particularly when they are allowed to stay for an extended period. They’ve been known to damage insulation, wiring, and HVAC systems, resulting in costly repairs. Sometimes raccoons use properties as latrines, leaving their feces and urine throughout the area they inhabit. This can lead to the spread of diseases and cause foul odors that are difficult to eliminate. If raccoons have caused damage to your property, contact a professional animal removal and damage repair company to assess the extent of the damage and provide a comprehensive plan.
Raccoons and Liability for Business Owners
If you’re a business owner, it is your responsibility to keep your property free from wildlife infestations that could harm your customers and employees. Since raccoons pose serious health risks, it’s best to keep them out of your business premises to ensure everyone’s safety. Raccoon infestations can also lead to property damage, unpleasant odors, and unsanitary conditions that could drive away customers. To prevent any liability issues and damage caused by raccoons, take the following steps:
- Keep your property clean and free of food sources that attract raccoons.
- Seal any potential entry points to prevent raccoons from entering your property.
- Contact a professional wildlife removal company at the first sign of a raccoon infestation.
If you encounter a raccoon infestation, it’s important to act quickly. At Critter Removal Ohio, we provide businesses with safe and humane raccoon removal services, as well as damage repair and remediation services to ensure that your property is safe and secure for your customers and employees. If you’re dealing with raccoon issues or suspect an infestation, you can request an inspection, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Expert and Humane Raccoon Removal in Columbus by Critter Removal Ohio
Dealing with raccoon infestations can be a difficult and stressful experience, but you don’t have to do it alone. Critter Removal Ohio offers expert raccoon removal services that can help you get rid of these raccoons safely and humanely. Our team of experienced professionals has the expertise and knowledge to handle raccoon infestations and provide great after-sales support. We use safe and humane trapping methods to remove raccoons from your property, and we offer damage repair and remediation services to help restore your property to its pre-infestation condition.
Contact Us for Raccoon Removal Services
If you need raccoon removal services, contact Critter Removal Ohio today. We offer a satisfaction guarantee and are committed to providing exceptional service to our customers. You can reach us by filling out the contact form below this article, calling the numbers on our website, or tapping the “Call Now” button on the top of the page if you’re on mobile. Our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our services.
