For homeowners, living in harmony with nature can be a beautiful thing. However, when nature’s wildlife starts to invade your home, it can quickly become a frustrating situation. Raccoons, for instance, have become a common nuisance in the area, leaving homeowners searching for ways to keep them out. Luckily, there are many prevention strategies you can employ to keep raccoons away from your home.
From securing your garbage cans to trimming your trees, there are steps you can take to deter them from seeking shelter on your property. Skedaddle specializes in raccoon removal in Markham and can assist you professionally and humanely. In this article, we’ll explore some effective prevention strategies and share tips on how to get rid of raccoons, so you can enjoy a peaceful coexistence with these adorable yet pesky animals.
Eliminating Food Sources
First things first, you need to understand that they are primarily attracted to your home because they’ve found a steady food source. So, to deter them, you need to cut off this source meticulously. They are omnivorous animals with an appetite for almost everything, which means you need to cover more than just your leftover food.
Secure Your Garbage
Raccoons are notorious for sifting through garbage cans in search of a meal. To prevent this, secure your garbage cans using bungee cords or place them in a locked shed or garage. Make sure to rinse the cans regularly to eliminate any traces of food that might attract them.
Handle Pet Food Carefully
If you have pets, make sure to bring their food in at night or, better yet, feed them indoors. They will happily devour any leftover pet food they find.
Harvest Fruits or Vegetables Timely
If you have a garden, harvest your fruits or vegetables as soon as they’re ripe to prevent attracting them. Installing a fence around your garden might also deter them from feasting on your produce.
By taking these steps, you can greatly reduce the chances of them taking up residence in your home or yard. Next, let’s move on to how to seal off entry points, another crucial step in preventing infestations.
Sealing Entry Points
Raccoons have an uncanny talent for finding access points into our homes. They can squeeze through small holes and gaps, tear open vent covers, or remove loose shingles. If you want to discourage them from taking up residence, you need to seal all potential entrances.
Conduct a Thorough Inspection
To begin with, undertake a thorough inspection of your home’s exterior. Look for holes, loose shingles, gaps in your siding, uncapped chimneys, and accessible vents.
Roof and Attic Entrances
These wild animals love to reside in attics and are likely to exploit any weaknesses in your roof. If your shingles are damaged or your vents are loose, you may soon be hosting a family. Regularly inspect your roof for signs of damage, and promptly repair any weak points.
Repairing Vents, Pipes and Chimneys
They are excellent climbers and can easily enter your house through chimneys and vents. Make sure all vents and chimney openings are secured with sturdy covers. Likewise, pipe outlets should be well protected with wire mesh so as not to provide an easy pathway for these critters into your home.
Foundation Cracks and Crawl Spaces
Many people overlook these spots, but raccoons can take advantage of even small foundation cracks to burrow into your home. Crawl spaces, likewise, offer them a cozy, secluded entry point. Keep these areas well maintained and promptly repair any damage.
By diligently securing your home, not only will you help preserve the peace, but you’ll also protect your family and property from potential damage or diseases associated with them.
Efforts to eliminate food sources and seal entry points can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re already dealing with a raccoon presence. That’s where professional assistance from Skedaddle becomes indispensable. But what about addressing the damage already caused by these intruders?
Addressing Damage
While cute and seemingly harmless, these animals can wreak quite a bit of havoc within your home. The damage they cause not only poses a physical risk but also raises concerns for health and safety. It’s essential to address this damage promptly and thoroughly to protect your home’s structural integrity and prevent potential health hazards.
Identifying and Repairing Property Damage
They can gnaw or claw their way into your property, damaging wood, vinyl siding, and even metal surfaces in their quest for shelter. Once inside, they are known to ruin insulation, chew on electrical wires, and destroy air ducts. All these result in hefty repair costs. Therefore, inspect your home regularly, paying attention to these signs of damage.
Once you identify the damaged areas, it’s vital to repair them promptly. While you can handle minor damages yourself, large-scale repairs should preferably be handled by a professional. For instance, damaged roofing or destroyed insulation might require specialized expertise. Hence, hiring a professional service like Skedaddle is a wise and cost-effective solution.
Addressing Health and Sanitation Concerns
The animals can leave a mess of droppings and urine, carrying diseases such as roundworm, leptospirosis, and rabies. Also, their presence can lead to an infestation of fleas, ticks, and mites. So be sure to address these issues quickly for your family’s safety and well-being.
First and foremost, if you come across droppings or urine, avoid handling them directly. These can harbour harmful pathogens that may cause serious illnesses if inhaled or accidentally ingested. Hence, hiring an experienced professional or a waste cleanup service would be the safest way to proceed.
Just as importantly, be proactive about pest management. Consult with pest removal services to clear your property of any parasites that might have settled in due to the raccoons.
Living peacefully with them isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. With diligence, a little bit of effort, and the right preventative strategies, you can ensure a harmonious co-existence with these animals.
Contact Skedaddle for Raccoon Removal in Markham
At Skedaddle, we understand how taxing dealing with raccoons can become, even as you appreciate their place in our urban ecosystem. We specialize in effectively and humanely removing them from residential properties and helping homeowners protect their homes against future invasions.
We are committed to providing not just comprehensive removal services but also support in addressing any damages caused by these furry little invaders. Our number one goal is to ensure that you and your family can continue to live comfortably and safely in your own residence, without having to constantly worry about invasions and the troubles they bring along.
Comprehensive Raccoon Removal Service
Armed with over three decades of field experience, our team of trained professionals knows raccoons inside out, not just their behaviour patterns but also the techniques to handle them effectively. We have developed a unique, humane and innovative removal process that employs hands-on removal techniques and exclusion strategies.
This means we carefully remove them out of your home without harming them and then secure your property to prevent their return. This handling ensures the safety and well-being of these curious animals while maintaining your home’s peace and security.
Skilled Damage Repair and Sanitation
Once they are safely removed, the job is only half done. Often these animals leave behind significant damage that needs immediate attention. At Skedaddle, we understand this and offer a full suite of repair and sanitation services to ensure your home is returned to its pristine condition.
From repairing physical damage caused to various structures such as walls, roofs, or ventilation systems, to taking care of sanitation issues caused by droppings and urine, our skilled professionals take care of it all. This stringent sanitation process helps prevent any diseases these wild animals might have brought along, keeping your family safe and healthy.
Contact Skedaddle Today
Stop the stressful cat-and-mouse game with raccoons and let Skedaddle help you restore the tranquility of your home. Contact us today for a comprehensive removal service. No matter how severe or persistent the issue is, our dedicated and experienced team will be able to provide an effective solution.
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