Pros and Cons of Having Raccoons on Your Okanagan Property

Pros and Cons of Having Raccoons on Your Okanagan Property

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Is it always necessary to call wildlife control in Okanagan when you find wild animals on your property? It depends on several factors. If the animals are actually somewhere in your home, then yes, you absolutely need to have them professionally removed for their safety as well as your own.  If raccoons are present on your property but not in your house, is raccoon removal necessary? Ultimately, it is up to you, the homeowner, but here are some considerations to make. 

Pros

Raccoons are known for tipping over garbage cans to eat out of them and strewing waste all around the yard. However, if you can keep the raccoons out of the garbage, they can actually help to keep your yard clean.  Raccoons are omnivores and often times they find food by scavenging. They can eat things such as the carcasses of dead animals, fallen fruits and nuts from trees, and waste from your garden.  While raccoons can be pests themselves, they can also help to keep other pests out of your yard and garden. Raccoons eat things such as worms, insects, spiders, and even larger pests such as rodents. If there are raccoons in your yard, they can help prevent pests such as these from getting into your home. 

Cons

While there may be some benefits to having raccoons on your property, there are many more drawbacks. Raccoons aren't particularly aggressive animals; if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone. However, they can fight back if they feel threatened. If you, a child, or a pet gets too close to a raccoon, whether accidentally or on purpose, the raccoon may bite or scratch.  Raccoons are frequent carriers of the rabies virus, which spreads when saliva from an infected animal gets into the bloodstream. This can happen when a raccoon bites or scratches in self-defence. Pets are routinely vaccinated against rabies, but humans are not, so if you or a family member gets bitten by a raccoon, you may need rabies shots to protect against the deadly infection. Even if a raccoon is not rabid, its bites and scratches can cause serious injuries.  Even without a direct confrontation, raccoons on your property can cause problems for you. They can carry a number of other pathogens that may spread through their excrement. Once a raccoon establishes a den, it makes a latrine somewhere nearby in which it urinates and defecates. Coming in contact with a raccoon latrine can expose you to dangerous diseases.  While human garbage is not part of raccoons' natural diet, they do seem to enjoy it and actively seek it out, even if other sources of food are available. Raccoons can make a big mess knocking over garbage cans and digging through their contents to find food. This has a negative effect on your property, your neighbourhood, and the environment as a whole.  Furthermore, once raccoons are on your property, it becomes more likely that they will make their way into your house. They may do some significant damage on the way. Raccoons have dextrous claws that are adept at manipulating weaknesses in your home's structure. They can pull off shingles or make holes in soffits to create an opening big enough for them to fit through. Once the raccoons get inside, they can rip up insulation for nesting material and make noise as they move around. Raccoons typically make dens in homes to raise offspring, meaning that the problems they can cause on your property are compounded. 

Call Skedaddle for Wildlife Control in Okanagan

Ultimately, there are far more efficient ways to get the benefits of raccoons on your property without the downsides. Nevertheless, raccoons have an important role to play in the ecosystem and deserve respect. Find out more about how humane wildlife removal benefits both you and the animals.

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About the author: Darryl Sangster is a highly experienced mentor, entrepreneur, and franchisor. Darryl grew up in Saskatchewan and attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox. Over the course of 20 years, Darryl has built a franchise system of over 40 franchises, including retail, distribution, and manufacturing. In 2017 he sold this franchise system and now he educates fellow franchisors through his business, Sangster Franchise Group. The new branch of Skedaddle in Okanagan is his newest endeavour.

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