Many of us wonder what the big attraction in our attics is that raccoons just seem to love making it their home. But somehow the answer to this is much simpler than what we expect it to be. Naturally, raccoons love to hide in holes, like tree cavities. This is especially true for mother raccoons that are in this way able to look out for predators and thus protect their families. Your attic’s environment resembles that of a tree cavity. Moreover, your attic is a much warmer environment for raccoons to seek shelter at, and it is also free from close by predators unlike their tree cavities, so naturally raccoons are going to be more attracted to come to your attics.
Why is it a bad idea to allow raccoons to stay in your attic?
This is simple, raccoons, although seemingly harmless, can cause a lot of noise and damage to your attic. Even for animal lovers who might find raccoons cute to have them around in your attic, we have to remember that raccoons are wild animals at the end of the day and they are unpredictable and temperamental.
These raccoons can attack anytime and they also carry a lot of dangerous viruses and pathogens like rabies. Although for a bunch of adults this would seem like no threat, if you are living as a family and if you have children around, it is best to keep them protected against this avoidable threat. Raccoons also bring in mites, fleas and ticks and other kinds of small insects which can also be deadly.
Raccoons are small, wild and very smart creatures and it can indeed be a trouble to figure a way to keep them out. But let’s run through some ways which might work for you to keep your attic raccoon free.
So how can we keep raccoons out of our attic?
Raccoons are like tiny thieves. They have very tactical skills and agile fingers which can open many things like latches, locks and they can use their hands to climb through small areas and even slippery pipes. So keeping the doors and windows to your attic with a good lock can be a start to keeping them out of your attic.
Some other ways to keep raccoons out will be:
• Use an abrasive wire brush and keep it around external piping and downspouts.
• Make sure all your garbage is closed up with animal resistant cans. This can keep raccoons away from smelling the food and other things in your trash and coming towards it. Or you can also get your garbage out of the area and keep it in your shed or outside your house, or you can clear them right away.
• If you have any pet doors in your house, keep them locked when your pets are asleep at night.
• Try not to leave food outside as it can attract not just raccoons but also other small animals to come into your place.
• Get tree branches cut from touching to your house and its doors and windows. This is a good route with which raccoons and other small animals and insects can easily climb into your house.
• Cover your chimney with a wire mesh as this is also another possible route with which raccoons can climb inside to your fire place.
Stay vigilant to prevent further infestations
These are just the basic and simple ways to keep raccoons and some other animals and insects away from your attic and house. After trying all these methods, you might need to slowly observe and see how raccoons or other animals or insects enter your house. Try to look around your house and see where their habitats lie. Also take note with which routes they take to easily come into your house. Check all your doors and windows and change the latches and locks if they are easily being opened by the raccoon’s witty fingers.
If despite all this you still end up with raccoons or other animals in your attic, do not try to get rid of them or lure them out all by yourself. Although they are cute, they are also dangerous and as mentioned before we won’t know when they would start attacking us. It would be best to call for professional help and for people who are trained to handle animals like raccoons. Make your call to Sande Wildlife Control today and allow us to help you through your raccoon problems!