Tips offered on dealing with raccoons
Published 10:00 pm, Monday, March 2, 2015
When people find out that I rehabilitate raccoons, the first question I get is, “Aren’t they mean?” I respond by explaining that raccoons are like most animals and that they can be mean in certain situations — those being if they feel threatened or if mothers feel their babies are being threatened. As with most wildlife, they want nothing to do with humans and will retreat if approached.
Another question I get is how to keep raccoons from eating the cat food they put outside. The answer is you can’t keep them out. Remove the food and you remove the problem. Some believe that trapping and relocating the hungry critters will solve the problem. Wrong. Removing them will only allow for others to move in. Additionally, you have just sentenced the relocated raccoon to an almost certain death as raccoons are very territorial and the “locals” will fight to protect their turf.
TWRC Wildlife Center gets many calls, especially in the spring, asking how to get raccoons out of attics and garages. In most cases, female raccoons will take up temporary residence in areas that are protected and dry. If they have access to an attic, garage or other buildings they will move in to give birth. The most humane thing to do is to leave the mother and babies alone and in a few short weeks, she will move out taking her babies with her. To avoid this problem from happening again, make sure you block or repair the areas that serve as entry points. If you feel you can’t wait a few weeks, there is a humane way to get her to move out. Keep the area well-lit 24 hours a day and play a loud radio. Within a couple of days, the mama will move out taking her babies with her. These are easy solutions and they are free.