Raccoons are attracted to your property because they are looking for accessible garbage, abundant food sources, ideal sheltering spots, water sources, and easy access points. You might notice these masked animals visiting your yard at night in search of basic survival needs. They are highly adaptable creatures that view residential areas as the perfect place to find a meal and raise their young.
Once a raccoon discovers that your property offers these necessities, they will keep coming back. They easily remember good spots and will even teach their babies how to access them. You need to understand what brings them to your yard so you can identify the weak points around your house.
In this blog, we will explain the specific things that attract these animals to your home and how Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Maple Grove can help. You will learn exactly what makes your property so appealing to them.
Do raccoons eat garbage?
Yes, raccoons absolutely eat garbage. These animals are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will consume almost anything they can find. Your household trash bins provide a massive buffet of leftover food, scraps, and food packaging that they find irresistible. This constant food supply makes residential neighbourhoods very attractive to them.
Because they have an excellent sense of smell, raccoons can detect thrown-away food from a long distance away. They use their strong, human-like hands to pry open standard trash can lids and dig through the contents. Once they realize your bins are an easy food source, they will make it a regular stop on their nightly foraging route. They will quickly learn your garbage schedule and wait for the bins to be moved outside.
Relying on human trash is much easier for them than hunting or foraging in the wild. This is why unsecured garbage is one of the biggest reasons you see these animals hanging around your home. Trying to secure the bins yourself often fails against their impressive problem-solving skills. You need to rely on expert solutions to keep them away from your property completely.
1. Accessible Garbage Cans
Unsecured trash bins act as a massive draw for hungry raccoons. These animals are incredibly smart and quickly learn which neighbourhoods offer the easiest meals. When you leave your garbage cans outside without secure lids, you are essentially inviting them to dinner. They will happily dig through your waste to find discarded leftovers, meat scraps, and sweet treats.
Raccoons are well known for their physical strength and problem-solving skills. They can easily knock over lightweight bins or pry off loose-fitting lids to get what they want. Once they get inside, they will pull out bags and tear them open, leaving a huge mess scattered across your driveway or lawn. This messy habit is a clear sign that a raccoon has been visiting your property overnight.
If you keep your garbage outside, it becomes a reliable food source that these animals will depend on. They have excellent memories and will return to the same cans night after night. Breaking this habit requires our professional help, as simply cleaning up the mess will not stop them from coming back. You must take professional action to remove this temptation.
2. Abundant Food Sources
Beyond your garbage, your property likely offers other easy meals that attract raccoons. They are not picky eaters and will take advantage of many different food options available in your yard, including:
- Outdoor Pet Food: Leaving dog or cat food outside is a guaranteed way to attract hungry raccoons. They love the high protein content in commercial pet foods and will happily eat right from your pet’s bowl. If you leave food out overnight, you are creating a reliable feeding station for these animals. They will visit your porch or patio every night if they know a free meal is waiting.
- Vegetable Gardens: Your backyard garden provides a fresh and healthy food source for foraging raccoons. They are especially fond of sweet corn, tomatoes, and other ripening vegetables. They will ruin your hard work by digging up plants and eating your crops right before you plan to harvest them. A thriving garden is a major reason why these animals choose to spend time in your yard.
- Fallen Fruit and Nuts: Fruit trees and nut-bearing trees drop tasty snacks straight onto your lawn. Raccoons will gladly clean up apples, pears, or walnuts that have fallen to the ground. Even a small amount of leftover fruit can give them enough calories to survive the night. They will constantly patrol your yard looking for these sweet, sugary treats.
3. Ideal Sheltering Spots
Raccoons do not just visit your property for food; they also want a safe place to live. Your home offers many dry, dark, and warm areas that are perfect for resting and raising their babies. Here are the main sheltering spots:
- Attics: The attic is one of the most common places for a female raccoon to build a den. It provides a warm, dry environment that is completely safe from outside predators. Once inside, they will trample your insulation and create an extreme mess that requires our professional attention. They view your attic as the ultimate nursery for their young.
- Chimneys: An uncapped chimney looks just like a hollow tree to a pregnant raccoon. They will easily scale the outside of your home and climb down into the dark cavity to give birth. The brick walls offer excellent protection from harsh weather and other dangers. Our team frequently helps homeowners who hear chattering babies echoing from behind their fireplace.
- Under Decks and Sheds: The spaces beneath your outdoor structures offer excellent ground-level shelter. Raccoons can easily dig underneath a shed or deck to create a cozy, hidden den. These areas protect them from the rain and wind while keeping them close to your yard’s food sources. They will happily live right under your feet if the space is left unprotected.
4. Water Sources
Water is another basic survival need that brings raccoons onto your property. Like all living creatures, they need a reliable source of fresh drinking water to stay healthy and hydrated. If your yard features decorative ponds, birdbaths, or even leaking outdoor pipes, it becomes an oasis for them. They will actively seek out properties that offer easy access to water on a nightly basis.
Raccoons also have a unique habit of washing their food before they eat it. They use their highly sensitive front paws to examine their meals, and water helps enhance their sense of touch. If they find food in your yard, they will carry it to the nearest water source to dunk it. This means your clean birdbath or backyard pond can quickly become dirty and contaminated.
Properties with swimming pools also face frequent visits from thirsty raccoons. They will gladly drink from the shallow steps of your pool or splash around in the water. Having a constant water supply gives them one more reason to stay on your property long-term instead of moving on. They will view your backyard as a complete habitat that meets all their needs.
5. Easy Access Points
Raccoons are excellent climbers and are always looking for ways to get inside your home. They use their dexterous paws to exploit weak spots on the exterior of your house. Here are the most common access points:
- Loose Roof Shingles: A single loose or damaged roof shingle provides the perfect starting point for a raccoon. They possess the physical strength needed to tear away roofing materials and expose the wood underneath. Once they rip a hole through the roof deck, they have a direct path into your attic. They will constantly search your roof for these vulnerable areas.
- Damaged Roof Vents: Roof vents are designed to let air flow through your attic, but they often feature weak plastic or thin metal covers. Raccoons will chew or pry these covers completely off to gain entry into the building. The warm air escaping from the vent acts as a signal that a cozy shelter is waiting inside. They see these vents as open doors to your home.
- Plumbing Flanges: The rubber and plastic mats that seal plumbing pipes on your roof are easy targets. Raccoons will simply peel these covers back to create a large hole into your house. They use these plumbing flanges as a convenient entrance point to bypass your home’s exterior defences. Once the seal is broken, they can come and go whenever they please.
Professional Raccoon Prevention Services
When raccoons decide to make your property their home, you need our professional assistance to get them out and keep them away. Skedaddle provides expert services designed to protect your home from these persistent animals. We understand exactly how they operate and where they like to hide. Our technicians have the training and experience to handle the situation safely and effectively.
You should never attempt to handle an animal intrusion on your own. Our process involves a thorough inspection of your property to identify all the entry points they are using. We then install specialized one-way doors over these openings. This clever device allows the animals to leave your home safely to find food, but completely blocks them from re-entering.
Once we are sure all the animals have left the building, we focus on securing your home against future visits. We use heavy-gauge steel mesh to reinforce your roof, vents, and other vulnerable areas. By hiring us, you can relax knowing that the job is done correctly. Your property is completely protected from unwanted visitors by our expert team.
Raccoon Removal Services in Maple Grove
Maple Grove is a beautiful area with a mix of natural spaces and urban development, making it a prime location for raccoon activity. The region’s climate, with warm summers and cold winters, means raccoons are always on the hunt for safe and warm shelter, especially during the colder months. Homes and buildings in Maple Grove often feature attics, chimneys, and other spaces that can attract these clever critters. Our team understands the local environment and knows how to protect your property effectively.
The unique building styles in Maple Grove, such as pitched roofs and traditional vent designs, can sometimes create opportunities for raccoons to enter. Local regulations also play an important role in how wildlife removal must be handled. It’s vital to follow humane methods and comply with guidelines set by the city and province. We are experienced in meeting these requirements and ensuring raccoon removal is both safe and ethical.
Seasonal challenges are another factor in raccoon activity. During the fall and early winter, raccoons look for denning sites to raise their young or escape cold weather. This can lead to common problems for homeowners, such as damaged vents, roof holes, or torn insulation. With our local expertise and reliable solutions tailored to Maple Grove’s specific needs, we ensure your home is raccoon-free and stays that way. Trust us to safeguard your property while respecting the community’s regulations and natural environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do raccoons come out during the day?
While they are primarily nocturnal, raccoons will sometimes come out during the day to search for food. This is especially true if they are nursing mothers looking for extra calories.
Are raccoons dangerous to pets?
Yes, they can be highly defensive and may injure a dog or cat. They will scratch and bite if they feel threatened or cornered in your yard.
Why is raccoon feces dangerous?
Their droppings can contain harmful parasites and roundworm eggs that pose a serious health risk. This is why cleanup should only be handled by our trained professionals with the right safety equipment.
Will a fence keep raccoons out of my yard?
Standard fences rarely keep them out because they are excellent climbers. They can easily scale wood, chain-link, or brick barriers to access your property.
Do bright lights scare raccoons away?
Bright lights might deter them temporarily, but these intelligent animals quickly realize the lights are harmless. They will eventually ignore the lights and continue exploring your yard.
Protect Your Home From Raccoons with the Experts
Keeping raccoons out of your home doesn’t have to be stressful. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Maple Grove, we understand how challenging it can be to deal with these clever animals. That’s why we’re committed to providing safe, humane, and permanent solutions to protect your property.
Our team of trained professionals knows how to handle raccoons humanely and effectively, making sure they don’t come back. The process begins with a thorough property assessment to identify entry points and areas of concern. From there, we use proven techniques and high-quality materials to secure your home and restore your peace of mind.
Don’t wait for raccoons to cause more damage. Acting quickly can save you money, protect your family, and avoid bigger problems down the road. Our reliable team does all the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
With Skedaddle, you can count on a clean, secure home and long-lasting results. Take the first step in solving your raccoon problem today by contacting us for an estimate. We look forward to helping you regain control of your property and keeping it safe for years to come.
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