On the subject of pest management, most Portland home and business owners will focus on insects. If other pests are considered at all, it will usually be those on the smaller end, such as rats and mice. The fact is, there's plenty of wildlife and animals that can be a threat to your property; potentially damaging your belongings, entering your home, or harming you and your family. If cornered or surprised, it would be nothing for wildlife to bite, hit, or claw at you, your family, or your pets. Further, wildlife can spread illness-causing bacteria while they’re hanging around. The chance of these things happening is especially high if it’s a critter that reproduces quickly and in large numbers.
If your home is near a body of water or a wooded or grassy location, it’s probable you will encounter wildlife and animals; raccoons in particular. These creatures aren’t as cuddly and innocent as they look, and you don’t want to tolerate their presence in your yard or home. Find out how you can ward them off with help from Big Blue Bug Solutions.
How Do Raccoons Look & Behave? What Are The Risks?
Raccoons are round and quite plump, normally weighing 15 to 40 pounds. Their bodies can stretch up to three feet in length. Thick brown and black fur covers their bodies, with black rings on their bushy tails. Around their eyes is a chunky black outline that looks like a mask. Appearing hunched over, raccoons have two back legs that are longer than those in the front.
Naturally outdoor animals, raccoons tend to surround water and live in woody patches and forests. However, they’ll crawl into residential zones and urban environments looking for food. They’ll wreck a trash can and disperse its contents while rummaging for food. If nuts, fruit, and other critters are available to munch on, raccoons will likely appear. Bugs, frogs, rabbits, and mice are some of the pests they prey on. Once they get comfortable on your property, they’ll begin to form dens in chimneys and attics and under porches.
Raccoon infestation signs are:
- Finding overturned or ruined garbage cans and compost piles.
- Having destroyed gardens.
- Seeing ripped window and/or door screens.
- Noticing damaged foundations, siding, shingles, wires, or insulation.
- Finding nesting matter or paw prints.
- Hearing random loud noises outside or in storage spaces.
- Hearing scratching sounds behind wall voids.
There are several dangers raccoons bring in. They are known to be aggressive and harm humans if they feel defensive. Beyond that, they could be carriers of rabies, histoplasmosis, tularemia, tuberculosis, and other dreadful diseases. Both humans and pets could become sick. Seek medical attention right away if you and/or a domestic animal are injured by or have contact with a raccoon.
How Can You Prevent Raccoons?
Take these steps to keep raccoons at bay:
- Use canisters with tight lids for garbage storage.
- Sit trash cans a few feet away from your property.
- Distance greenery and gardens from exterior doors.
- Put covers and screens on all chimneys, vents, and windows.
- Cut your grass regularly and maintain the cleanliness of your lawn.
- Call Big Blue Bug Solutions if you have pests raccoons feed on.
What Can Big Blue Bug Solutions Do About Raccoons?
The experienced wildlife team at Big Blue Bug Solutions knows exactly how to handle raccoons and other critters in an efficient and humane fashion. Our expert techniques and industrial-grade treatments include exclusion methods, trapping, habitat modification, and wildlife-proofing materials and guards for vents, chimneys, and roofs.
Our solutions preserve natural resources and aren’t a hazard for humans and pets. We have cost-friendly plans that are wide-ranging and comprehensive. They come with specialized services, guarantees, and more. Protect what’s yours; call us today!