Raccoons are interesting animals, and with all the YouTube videos showing people hand-feeding them, you can almost forgive homeowners for believing all raccoons are approachable or tame. While raccoons are relatively timid when they have space and feel safe, they are still wild animals, making them unpredictable. If you have a raccoon living on your property, contact wildlife control in Markham to address the issue.

The Dangers of DIY Raccoon Removal

No homeowner should ever attempt to handle or remove a raccoon from their property. DIY removal techniques are reckless and unsafe. Using such methods only puts you and the animal at risk of injury or worse. While many homeowners want to try DIY options to save money, experts warn no amount of money is with the risks. According to experienced wildlife technicians, there are at least three reasons you should avoid DIY removal options.

1. Disease Exposure

Raccoons may carry several diseases that are transmissible to people and pets. You can become infected without ever touching the animal because bacteria can live in its feces and urine. Because raccoons create dedicated latrines — bathroom areas — it is possible to expose yourself to illness or infection when trying to clean up your property. Only professionals have the right tools, products, and practice to thoroughly and correctly clean a raccoon den and latrine. 

2. Short-Term Option

Scaring a raccoon away from your property is not a practical solution. While a raccoon may abandon a den for a few days after being scared off, it will likely return. Raccoons are motivated by food, water, shelter, and security. While you might call into question the animal’s safety by making noises or using other DIY methods, if the animal has access to everything else it needs on your property, it will return.

3. Expensive

People often explain that DIY methods are cheaper than hiring a professional. While initial costs may seem less expensive, homeowners do not realize the time they must put into wildlife prevention and control. They also will make mistakes when trying to resolve the issue without experience or adequate knowledge. Between time invested, costly mistakes, and failed attempts, DIY methods will cost more than simply hiring a service to do the job right the first time.

4. Dangerous

Raccoons do not want to get into altercations with humans. They want to go about their business without issues. While the animals are not typically aggressive, if they are scarred and cornered, they will attack. Also, if the animal is ill, it may become aggressive. Approaching wild animals puts you at serious risk of injury, not to mention the risks to the animal.

Raccoons are not domestic animals. While some people may have raccoons as pets, these animals were likely raised in home environments around people and could never survive in the wild. Wild raccoons will defend themselves like their lives depend on it, even if you have the best intentions. The animal is a prey animal, and it sees you as a predator. Interacting with wildlife will often result in severe injury.

The Importance of Hiring a Professional Service

DIY methods are too risky when dealing with wildlife. If you want to try DIY, try it with woodworking. Raccoon removal is too dangerous, and professionals warn that interacting with raccoons can result in injury, illness, and infection. If you have a raccoon problem, do not deal with it on your own. Call Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and ask for help. The service works with qualified wildlife technicians capable of safely removing animals from your property, including raccoons. Professional services also understand regulations and have insurance to ensure homeowners are protected.