About the Raccoon

The raccoon is a small nocturnal mammal, typically 20–30 thirty inches long and weighing 15–30 pounds, though in urban areas where they thrive on our refuse raccoons can weigh up to 60 pounds. Their fur is grayish brown with a bushy banded tail and black masked face. Raccoons appear to flourish in places where humans have developed the land. They are highly adaptable, extremely intelligent animals that live well in cities, suburbs, and rural environments.

Raccoons are omnivorous and will eat almost anything from fish, insects, eggs, and young mammals to fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Most active at night, raccoons sometimes also forage for food by day. They will make their nests almost anywhere—in tree cavities, brush piles, abandoned burrows, chimneys, attics, crawl spaces, storm sewers, haystacks, and barn lofts—and usually have more than one den site available for use at any one time.

Raccoons are as intelligent as dogs and cats, and their front limbs provide them with great manual dexterity. They have routines for food and shelter, and remember places that are good for each.

Possible Conflicts and Resolutions

Here are some ways to encourage the animals to move on

• Use mild repellents such as ammonia-soaked rags placed near or inside the entryway (to one side) so the raccoon has to pass them to get in or out. Replenish them as the smell fades.
• Place a flashlight (switched on) in or as close to the den site as possible. The light will annoy raccoons.
• Play a radio near the den site day and night to further annoy them.
• If possible, trim back any tree branches or limbs that are close to the house. If it is impractical to eliminate all branches, tree trunks can be wrapped with two-foot wide sheet metal beginning two feet above the ground. This prevents raccoons from climbing the trees. Listen closely for raccoon young, called kits, before using any permanent exclusionary methods. Young kits often sound like whining puppies. Closely monitor the raccoons to determine when they have moved, and after the family is gone, tightly secure the area to prevent reentry. If there are no young present, install a one-way door over the den entrance, allowing the raccoon to leave in the evening but preventing its reentry. Once the animal is gone, be sure to permanently seal entryways with heavy gauge wire mesh. Make sure your chimney is securely capped. Raccoons have little hands that can easily dislodge loose screens or covers. They are agile climbers, and females like to use the flue or smoke shelf as a den.

Trapping and Invasive Techniques

Trapping adult raccoons often leads to separation and probable death of the young, and also makes the habitat available for more animals to move in. Invasive techniques, such as using smoke or fire to drive animals out, should never be used, as the mother will most likely abandon the site resulting in the death of the kits that are physically unable to climb.

A Raccoon in your Home

If a raccoon enters your house, close the doors between the animal and the rest of the house, then open doors and windows to the outside. Let the animal escape on its own. Leave the capture and handling of wildlife to the experts. Secure pet doors, especially at night, to prevent raccoons from using them to enter your home.

Raccoons and Gardens

Vegetable and fruit gardens can be susceptible to raccoon damage, often as foods are ripening. Closely monitor your garden at these times and take steps such as netting, lights, and radios, to keep the animals away until harvest time. For persistent raccoons, single strand electric fencing can be an effective exclusionary method. The use of mylar balloons, pinwheels, or aluminum strips will often frighten raccoons away from a site. Spreading cayenne pepper over an area can also often be an effective repellent against raccoons.