Raccons, technically called, Procyon lotor, are distributed throughout the entire United States, Mexico and the Southern regions of Canada.
This nocturnal, stocky animal with a distinctive black mask and ringed tail can weigh as much as 50 pounds, but more commonly weighs 10-30 pounds. Raccoons typically den in areas like hollow trees, ground burrows, brush piles, and rocky crevices and are often associated with nearby water sources.
Contrary to popular belief, raccoons do not wash their food in water before eating it, but can often be seen hunting for crayfish, clams or fish with both forelimbs in the water and appear to be washing their food. Raccoons are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of animal and plant based foods including eggs, frogs, insects, fish, fruits, nuts and berries.
Raccoons breed in February and March and most litters are born in April and May. The young will continue to den with their mother through their first winter and become independent the following spring. Raccoons come into conflict with humans when they visit garbage cans or grub infested lawns in search of food. Raccoon damage to lawns can be quite severe, with large sections of turf damaged as the animals search for grubs or earthworms to eat. Raccoons will also nest in attics, barns and other man-made structures. Raccoons, along with chimney swifts, are one of the few nuisance wildlife species that will intentionally nest inside chimneys, often using the smoke shelf located at the base of flue as a nesting site for their young.
Raccoons have been identified as a major wildlife host of rabies in the United States. Rabies is a dangerous viral disease that nearly always results in death if left untreated (.The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, causing disease in the brain and eventual death. Symptoms of the disease in wildlife may include erratic or aggressive behavior. An example of such behavior in raccoons includes activity during daylight hours since they are normally nocturnal. Such behavior should be viewed with suspicion and precautions should be taken to limit exposure to the animals. In addition to raccoons, other common rabies vector species include foxes, skunks and bats.
Branches should be trimmed approximately six feet way from rooflines to prevent access and all attic vents and other access holes should be repaired or screened with hardware cloth. Raccoons that have been excluded from existing nesting sites can be extremely persistent in their attempts to regain entry to a structure and can cause considerable damage in the process.
Raccoons will often visit garbage cans for food. Using heavy duty plastic or metal cans with tight fitting Lids will help deter visits from curious raccoons. Attaching lids with damps or tie downs may be necessary if they do not fit tightly. Cans may also need to be secured to prevent raccoons from tipping them over to gain access to the contents. Raccoons can be trapped using box traps; however it is important to note some minor modifications to the trap may be necessary. The rear half of single- door traps should be tightly screened witl1 1/2 inch hardware doth to discourage raccoons from reaching into the trap from the side or rear to remove the bait.
Cat food or sardines are often recommended as bait; however these items can be highly attractive to non target animals like outdoor cats, which can result in unpleasant public relations with the client or their neighbors. Marshmallows, which are attractive to raccoons, but not neighborhood cats, can be a good substitute bait item.
Raccoons typically enter into the attic of a house. Early spring is a particular time when they are looking for a home to give birth. Late fall intrusions are due to the efforts for a winter home.
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