Although raccoons look like cute masked bandits, they wreak havoc when they invade your property. In addition to damaging structures, raccoons are also known for carrying diseases that could be dangerous to humans. They can also destroy backyard vegetable gardens. While you may think that raccoons only thrive in rural environments, this is a misconception. Raccoons are adaptable creatures that eat just about anything, so they can survive in nearly any environment. Knowing where to look for the furry bandits in urban and suburban regions can help you protect your home.

Raccoons in Suburban Areas

Raccoons often gravitate towards suburban areas because these regions are abundant in easy food sources and offer plenty of shelters. Suburban homes often have yards that give raccoons plenty of places to den. They may choose holes under a deck, old fallen logs, unused sheds or crawl spaces under houses to build dens in. All of these spaces give female raccoons a quiet place to raise babies in.

In addition to having a plethora of opportunities to create a warm den for raising kits, suburban properties also offer numerous food sources. Raccoons feast on other small animals that frequent properties, but they also consume human food and pet food that is left outside for outdoor dogs and cats. They are also notorious burglars and have been known to raid gardens and destroy crops. Some suburban properties even have chicken coops that give raccoons a chance to steal eggs and fresh meat with little effort. Raccoons prefer to eat easy food sources, so when they can find easy meals on your property, they are less likely to leave willingly. Eliminating these food sources is the best way to deter raccoons from your property by making it a less hospitable environment for them.

Raccoons in Urban Environments

You probably don’t expect to see a raccoon rummaging for food in the big city, but the animals can thrive in urban environments just as they do in rural regions. They prefer the cover of trees and bushes to create dens in, but when they live in metropolitan areas, raccoons take up residence in crevices under buildings, abandoned cars and backyard trees if they are available. In the city, raccoons tend to eat bits of human food they steal from trash cans or find lying on the ground as litter. They may also feast on rodents and other small animals that live in city environments.

How To Deter Raccoons

There are a few measures you can take to make your property less appealing for raccoons. Installing flood lights and maintaining a decent noise level on your property is often enough to deter the masked creatures. Because they are constantly searching for easy sources of food, you should also take care to secure pet food and trash cans tightly. This will help encourage raccoons away from your home and towards another food source in the area.  

The best way to keep raccoons out of your home is to make it hard for them to access the building. Regularly inspect your yard and trim any low-lying tree branches that could grant raccoon access to your roof. They are less likely to try and get into your home if you make the process difficult for them.

How To Get Rid of Raccoons

If you find raccoons living inside your home despite your best efforts to deter them, you need to call an expert who knows how to get rid of baby raccoons in a humane way. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is happy to help with raccoon removal in Coquitlam, so contact us today to find out what to do if you find baby raccoons in your home.