Who to Call for Raccoon Removal: Finding the Right Wildlife Experts
Discovering a raccoon in your attic, chimney, or backyard can be alarming. These intelligent animals are notorious for causing damage, rummaging through trash, and even posing health risks by carrying diseases like rabies and parasites. When dealing with a raccoon problem, knowing who to call is essential. In this guide, we’ll cover why you should hire a wildlife control or pest control service, how they handle raccoon removal humanely, and what to expect from the process. Understanding how wildlife experts approach raccoon removal will help you make an informed decision and ensure that both your property and the raccoons are treated safely and ethically.
Why Professional Help is Essential for Raccoon Removal
While it might be tempting to try and trap or scare off a raccoon yourself, professional wildlife removal services are almost always the better option. Raccoons are wild animals and can become aggressive if threatened, especially if they are protecting their young. In addition to potential physical harm, attempting to remove raccoons without the right expertise may also violate local wildlife protection laws.
Professionals understand the behavior, risks, and legal requirements involved with wildlife removal. They are trained to remove raccoons safely and humanely, while also identifying and addressing the conditions that attracted the animals in the first place.
Hiring a Pest Control Service for Raccoon Removal
Many pest control companies offer wildlife removal services, and they are an excellent choice when dealing with raccoons. These professionals have the tools, experience, and training to handle raccoon removal efficiently, ensuring both your safety and that of the animal. Here’s how pest control services typically manage raccoon infestations:
Inspection and Assessment
The first step in professional raccoon removal is a thorough inspection of your property. Technicians will look for entry points, such as holes in your roof, open vents, or gaps in your chimney. They will also identify nests, droppings, food sources, and any damage caused by the raccoons.
This inspection is critical for understanding the severity of the problem and determining the best removal strategy. Pest control experts will also assess whether there are baby raccoons present, which requires special handling to avoid separating the young from their mother.
Humane Trapping and Removal
Professional pest control services use humane traps to capture the raccoons without harming them. These live traps are baited with food to attract the animals. Once captured, the raccoons are transported and released into a location far from residential areas, following local wildlife regulations.
In some cases, if baby raccoons are involved, the mother and her young may be relocated together to minimize stress. Wildlife removal companies are trained to handle these situations with care, ensuring that animals are not unnecessarily injured or separated.
Prevention Measures to Stop Future Infestations
Raccoons are persistent animals, and if the conditions that attracted them remain unchanged, they may return. After removal, pest control services will seal entry points and recommend measures to prevent future infestations. These measures might include:
- Installing chimney caps and mesh covers over vents
- Securing trash cans with tight-fitting lids
- Trimming tree branches near your roof
- Eliminating outdoor food sources like pet food or birdseed
By addressing the root cause of the infestation, professionals help ensure that raccoons do not return to your property.
Cleaning and Sanitization
Raccoons can carry diseases, such as rabies and leptospirosis, and their droppings may contain parasites like roundworms. Pest control services often provide cleaning and decontamination services to remove hazardous waste and eliminate odors that could attract other wildlife. Proper sanitization is crucial, especially if raccoons were nesting in your attic or chimney.
The Importance of Humane Wildlife Removal
When choosing a service for raccoon removal, it’s important to ensure that the company follows humane practices. Humane wildlife removal focuses on relocation and prevention rather than extermination, prioritizing the well-being of the animals while protecting your property.
Raccoons are often relocated to areas where they can thrive without causing problems for humans. Professional wildlife experts are trained to handle animals in ways that minimize stress, following state and local wildlife regulations regarding capture and relocation.
Many pest control companies also have policies against separating mothers from their young, ensuring that family units remain intact during the removal process. This kind of ethical treatment helps reduce unnecessary suffering and ensures that animals are given a chance to survive in the wild.
What to Look for When Hiring a Raccoon Removal Expert
Not all pest control or wildlife removal services are created equal. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a provider:
1. Licensing and Certification
Look for companies that are licensed and insured to handle wildlife removal. This ensures that they are knowledgeable about local regulations and have the necessary skills to manage raccoon removal properly.
2. Experience with Wildlife Removal
Choose a company that has specific experience in handling raccoons. Wildlife removal requires expertise different from standard pest control, so working with a service that specializes in animal management is essential.
3. Humane Removal Policies
Ask about the company’s approach to wildlife removal. Look for services that emphasize humane trapping and relocation rather than lethal methods. A good provider will also have strategies to avoid separating young animals from their mothers.
4. Reputation and Reviews
Check online reviews and ask for references to ensure that the company has a solid reputation. Positive feedback from other homeowners can give you confidence that you’re hiring a reliable and humane service.
5. Follow-up and Prevention Services
Choose a provider that offers follow-up services to ensure the problem is fully resolved. This includes sealing entry points, providing prevention tips, and offering additional inspections if needed.
What to Expect in Terms of Cost
The cost of raccoon removal can vary depending on factors such as the severity of the infestation, the number of animals, and the difficulty of access. Here’s a general breakdown of what you can expect to pay:
- Initial inspection and assessment: $75 to $200
- Live trapping and removal: $300 to $500 per animal
- Sealing entry points and preventive measures: $100 to $500
- Cleaning and decontamination services: $200 to $600
While these costs can add up, professional removal is often the best investment for your safety and peace of mind. Trying to handle the problem yourself could result in injuries, fines for violating wildlife laws, or ongoing infestations that require more costly solutions later.
When to Call a Professional
There are several signs that it’s time to call a wildlife removal expert. If you notice scratching sounds in your attic or walls, overturned trash cans, droppings, or damaged insulation, it’s likely that a raccoon has made its way into your home.
It’s especially important to call a professional if you suspect that a raccoon is nesting with its young in your attic or chimney. Removing animals in these situations requires specialized knowledge and care to avoid causing harm. Additionally, if you or your pets come into contact with a raccoon, contacting a wildlife expert immediately is crucial. Raccoons can carry diseases, and proper handling is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety.
Can You DIY Removal?
Raccoon removal is not a DIY job. These animals can be aggressive when threatened, and removing them improperly can lead to safety risks, legal issues, and ongoing infestations. Hiring a professional pest control or wildlife removal service ensures that the job is done safely, humanely, and effectively. When choosing a provider, look for one that offers humane trapping and relocation, thorough inspections, and preventive solutions to stop future infestations. A reputable service will not only remove the raccoons but also clean and sanitize affected areas, protecting your home and health.
Investing in professional raccoon removal is the best way to restore peace to your property and ensure that both your family and the raccoons are treated with care. With the right experts on your side, you can resolve the issue quickly and prevent it from happening again.
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